Scharpe St Guy

Oh yes I forgot http://houston.craigslist.org/ You can find some awesome deals there. Scharpe St Guy

Ok here is my 2cents on buying furniture: 1. If your money management skills are bad or your job is not somewhere guaranteed stay AWAY from the 0% interest for 6-18months scam. You are only trying to beat the company's at there own game and they do very very very well by getting you into the furniture then minute 1 of no longer free financing you will be paying 20+% interest, most likely retroactive for the prior months you have had it. Stay away 2. Want a real deal? Go to Estate sales. Lots of fun with lots of great stuff and great buys. I purchased a sectional couch off of Ebay for cheap and it was what I was looking for but it was in Champions and I had to go get it but it was worth it. 3. Side note Star Furniture is owned by Warren Buffett, he didn't buy the company because they sell good or great furniture, he bought them because the financing arm generates huge dollars. Good luck, Scharpe St Guy

Was at a Habitat house yesterday in a very black neighborhood/area and Gas prices were very high compared to the nicer areas. We are talking $3.09 for regular, I saw a $3.05 a bit futher down and then finally when I drove closer to the Heights I was able to buy the premo gas for $3.05 the cost of regular a few miles north of there. Explain that now! I run a small business on the side and I have begun to notice that fuel costs a bit more in the poorer areas of town then in the middle class areas. There is validity to the high prices charged around River Oaks and West U though so perhaps if we are hunting for gas we go to the more average areas of town or check out: http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?zip=77023 Scharpe St Guy

Not sure what the agent was thinking taking a picture highlighting an upside down trampoline. I was trying to find the BBQ in the picture and thought at first it may have been a covered small pool, then 2c+2c led to the answer of an upside down trampoline! Nice house though but it is far north. Scharpe St Guy

I agree it should be saved. Now here is an idea on how to do it: 1. Start a company 2. Issue 1.3M Class A shares to interested individuals/investors/HAIF'ers 3. Elect a Board of 7 from Class A participants 4. Undertake appraisal of property and best uses for. (Lease to Pasadena as City Hall, Other corporation, Retail on ground floor, Doctor Offices, Condo's, etc...) 5. Purchase FPSB 6. Acquire Bids to renovate, repair, and start pre-leasing/selling space 7. Finish Renovation and Leasing/Sales and devise exit strategy for initial investors. 8. Possible sale or long term (99year) lease to ??? with clause that exterior of building can not be significantly altered. Building saved, hopefully a few $$$ made, and a nice warm feeling inside and a life long story to tell your friends, kids, and grandkids. Scharpe St. Guy

Renting first would make sense but you make a valid point about moving and ulcers and all the stress. Can't answer about schools, no kids yet for the wife and I but we do live in the East End and we have been very happy with our neighborhood, I would bet you wouldn't like it as it is redeveloping right now but we have had no problems at all with any crime and we are very inner loop. When I lived in the Heights some political activist was killed and his rental house torched on Worthshire and I thought that was a pretty nice place to live. So crime is not limited to just one area. Find yourself a good realtor to help you and I would recommend RPS personally, good luck and welcome to Houston. Scharpe St Guy

In my neighborhood on the East Side it cracks me up on the weekends homeowners will throw up a new garage from scratch in two days so when the permit / city inspector is out driving it's just a garage without any visable construction underway. Same goes with driveway's and sidewalks all done on the weekend. About a year ago I replaced the driveway about 60% of it at least at my then girlfriends house now wife before we sold it. Approx 70 feet by 10 feet wide with removal of old concrete although most of it was the two thin strips for approx $2,500. The neighborhood concrete guy and tree cutting guy did it. Great job with the metal fence/rebar alternative to provide strength. Scharpe St Guy

I would also be interested in the size of the garage your seeking and what cost your looking at to put it up. Just out of personal curiosity. I know I was speaking to the sales guy for Morgan Buildings and they can construct a garage and I have actually seen one and it looks pretty good. I don't recall the cost but I thought it was pretty reasonable. Scharpe St Guy

For all that missed it yesterday the Warm Springs house that Robert has listed is a great house. My wife and I went to view it and were very impressed with the layout, room sizes, and without a doubt the overall ambience with the great furniture and concrete floors. I only wish it was located on at least double the lot and was a tad cheaper!!! I'm sorry that I missed the open house on Lake Wind it looks great as well. Scharpe St Guy

The park/fitness side is 955 Westcott. Make sure you hire some movers, no elevators and getting a couch up the three flights will kill you or your friends! Scharpe St Guy

You found a great place to call home Crown Chick. I lived on the 955 Side apartment 29 I loved it and the location. There was a time when I first moved there that I only worked about a mile away that was the best commute of my life. Congrats! Scharpe St Guy

CrownChick, Shoot I offered you a one bedroom, take over the lease for $450 a month for the remainder of the term approx 5 months. My friend is paying $550/rent, $50 Electric, $30 Cable, Water is included in the rent price at least it was when I lived there and I didn't ask my friend. All the best, Scharpe St. Guy

Crownchick, That is a great place. I lived there for almost three years I loved it, safe, close to everything and it has only gotten better since I was there. Now they have that traffic circle and some excellent places to eat within 1/2 mile. What is the rental price? One bedroom or two? I believe that Cable is through a company that only serves Apartment communities. Not sure you have the option of say Time Warner but I would imagine you could get DishNetwork if your apartment area could obtain the view angle it would require. When are you moving? Scharpe St. Guy

Does anyone have an update on the old Rufus Cage School? Thanks, Scharpe St Guy

Crownchick, RPS is talking about the same complex I provided the link too. My friend is here at my place right now and he may purchase a listing I have of another friend in the Heights and his lease at Memorial Club is till October. He is paying $550/month, Electric $50 and Cable $30 a month. So now I have a deal for you!!! I would like to sell one of my listings but this friend would need his apartment lease taken over by another individual or else he is obligated for the term. So how does this sound he has 5 months left on his lease I will reduce the rent to $450/month for the remainder of the term (5 Months). This would give you a chance to explore Houston, have a cheap housing payment and see if you like the neighborhood which is (REALLY NICE) this is an area that has gone through a total redevelopment and is a very prime area of Houston to live in. Please let me know ASAP if you would be interested. Thanks, Scharpe St Guy

CrownChick, I lived in these apartments for 2+ years. Great complex, kinda basic when it comes to the amenities however the units are nice, located almost on the Park (Memorial Park), walking distance to great places to eat, very nice and cheap. I have a friend who lives there now and it's difficult for him to decide to move since he is right at the park and it's so cheap and close to everything. Check it out and welcome to Houston. http://www.rentnet.com/apartments/fyp/sear...E816CEB59A938C4 Scharpe St Guy

I would have to also recommend Fox Inspections. Builders hate them, they are known as "DealBreakers" in the industry. Scharpe St Guy

Thanks Trophy, Yes the machines can be very expensive to purchase, in the ball park of $5,000 - $6,000 new. I am not aware of anyone who leases the machines. Here is one on Ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/Water-Vending-Machine-...1QQcmdZViewItem Scharpe St. Guy

Trophy, Yes you know the machines. Same logic as selling a McDonalds Hamburger for xxCents (What is it now???). Ok first off the machines pull water from the location which originates from the City. So in theory we should have decent water, perhaps not great but good enough per the EPA, State, City and other Health Standards. The water is then passed through a series of smaller micron filters (4) including a Carbon (Taste/Odor) filter and is deposited into the internal tank reservoir. Upon deposit of 25cents for 1 gallon the water is pumped from the Reservoir through an additional Carbon and a UV (Ultraviolet light) filter which kills anything remaining/living in the water. So we start with city and pass through approx 6 filtering devices some machines may have one or two more or one less. RO (Reverse Osmosis) use to be and still is somewhat common in some areas of the country however in some dry areas such as Phoenix these are strictly regulated and or prohibited due to the waster factor. For every 1 gallon of water passed through the RO 4-10 gallons is passed into the drain as waste water. RO can get expensive both in water costs and the internal membrane. Ok now vending is a great industry, depending upon the machine usage/vends is how often you need to go service the machine to restock, clean, etc

No not really, I am Director of IT for a home builder, Real Estate Agent for Myself & Friends, and Owner of a small water vending business. I hope it helped you. Scharpe St. Guy

Welcome to the Neighborhood (The East End) Robert. You can find plenty of information on Idylwood by using the Search function within HAIF. Idylwood also belongs in the East End section not in Other Neighborhoods. I don't live there but I live close by with my wife in Broadmoor. You will need to eat at The Dinner Bell, pretty good food, better then Luby's I think. Also a new Asian/Tapioca restaurant opened up at Lawndale and 75th. Great food and CHEAP. It's located right next door to Amegy Bank and a few doors down from Fiesta. Scharpe St. Guy

Equity: (Appraised Value of Home) - (Amount Owed) = Equity Example 1: $200,000 - $150,000 = $50,000equity Banks will generally only loan up to 80% of Appraised Value though. Example 2: ($200,000 * .8) = $160,000 - $150,000 = $10,000 Available as a loan. Equity is a moving number based upon amount put down upon purchase, payments made, extra payments made against principal, and last but not least appreciation of the land and home value. A realtor could provide a ballpark number of what comps are selling for in your neighborhood but an appraiser would make the final call as to Present Value of your home. Scharpe St. Guy

Musicman, Mykawa would make sense if you ask me. Broadmoor is a great little community very close to Downtown and UH. I grew up in the country pretty much always on a few acres and I miss the room. We also purchased/started a new business of water vending machines, 25cents = 1 Gallon. And hence would love to have a larger garage/workshop and place to work on them. The house I purchased just over two years ago has to be one of the nicest ones in Broadmoor I would think and we have fixed it up really well. Wood Floors are being repaired, sanded, stained, etc... after who knows how many years of carpet over them next week. Someone will get a great home when we find the next home for us and a good deal. I wish 7702 Alanwood was located on a larger lot. That seems to be a pretty neat house but no garage :-( I am really suprised that builders have not hit Broadmoor yet with new construction. Just a matter of time as there are plenty of empty lots and some homes that need to be scraped. Scharpe St. Guy

Well the Wife and I are still looking within Garden Villa's for a home to purchase. We most likely should have put an offer on 6820 Cayton as that just sold and was out of the flight path. We have gone back and forth on 6335 Haywood but that fell through last night. Does anyone have any info on the home at 6355 Haywood? We have driven the neighborhood for almost two years now and it always seems like someone started a renovation on the home and then quit and nothing seems to change on it. I know this home was sold on 10/15/2003 any info? Hopefully some more interesting homes within Garden Villa's come on the market soon for us to look at we are ready to move! Thanks All, Scharpe St. Guy

Mr. Smarts, It is my understanding that the owner of the land would be required to find/close on the financing to build your project. One way around this is you and the builder come to a join agreement in regards to what you want and what the builder needs to generate off each Condo. Is the builder also going to sell the Condo's? If you want the builder to finance and build then you would be looking at setting up a legal entity, you would deed the land to the entity owned by you and the builder. The entity represented by the builder would then pitch to the banks, obtain financing, pre-sell, then undertake soil tests, replats, design, etc... in conjunction with you up to what your contract/agreement states. Good luck with this! Scharpe St. Guy