May Events in Texas - Things to see and do!

MAY 2008

1 CONROE Free Concert in the Park, (936) 522-3014, www.cityofconroe.org

1 KERRVILLE Symphony of the Hills, (830) 792-7469

1 AMARILLO [1-3] Greater Southwest Music Festival, (806) 373-5093, www.gswmf.com

1 HELOTES [1-4] Cornyval & PRCA Rodeo, (210) 695-2103, www.cornyval.com

1 ODESSA [1-4] Fiesta West Texas, (432) 580-8112

1 PORT NECHES [1-4] Riverfest & Classic Car Show, (409) 722-9154

1 HENDERSON [1-31] Wildflower Trails, 1-866-650-5529, ext. 800, www.hendersontx.us

2 AMARILLO Art Walk, (806) 352-7262

2 COLEMAN Ag Day, (325) 625-2361

2 EMORY [2-3] Founders Day Festival, (903) 473-2465, ext. 112, www.foundersdayfestival.org

2 LOCKHART [2-3] Cinco de Mayo, (512) 398-9600

2 ABILENE [2-4] Cinco de Mayo Festival, (325) 672-1794

2 HUNTSVILLE [2-4] Sam Houston Folk Festival, (936) 294-1832, www.samhouston.memorial.museum

2 JEFFERSON [2-4] Pilgrimage Tour of Homes & Spring Festival, (903) 665-3733, www.jefferson-texas.com

2 LLANO [2-4] Hawgs N Hills Rally, (325) 248-6070, www.hawgsnhills.com

2 LUCKENBACH [2-4] Hill Country Run, (830) 997-8515, www.hillcountryrun.com

2 TEXARKANA [2-4] Cinco de Mayo (870) 773-2941, www.fourstatesfair.com

2 WEATHERFORD [2-4] Greenwood Farms Spring Horse Trails, (817) 599-8159, www.greenwoodfarmonline.com

2 WINNSBORO [2-4] Texas Woodstock Festival, (903) 342-5267

3 BANDERA Charity Trail Ride, (830) 796-0500

3 BLANCO PBR Bullriding, (830) 833-4418

3 BRENHAM Country Flavors Festival, 1-888-273-6426, www.downtownbrenham.com

3 BRONTE Citywide Garage Sale, (325) 473-3501

3 BRONTE Fort Chadbourne Living History Event, (325) 743-2555, www.fortchadbourne.org

3 CORPUS CHRISTI Catch the Cure Fishing Tournament, (361) 949-7719, www.catchthecure.org

3 DECATUR Show & Pull, (940) 393-3273

3 DRIFTWOOD Mayfest, (512) 847-9338, www.driftwoodumc.org

3 DRIPPING SPRINGS Heritage Gala, (512) 694-0874, www.drpoundpioneerfarmstead.com

3 GAINESVILLE Spring Fling, (940) 668-4530, www.gainesville.tx.us

3 GREENVILLE Chili Cook Off, (903) 886-6924

3 HARPER Bull Ride & Dance, (830) 864-4912

3 HUNTSVILLE Airing of the Quilts, (936) 295-8322, www.tallpinesquiltguild.com

3 INDIAN SPRINGS BBQ Cookoff, (936) 327-3544

3 JACKSONVILLE Fiesta, 1-800-376-2217, www.jacksonvilletexas.com

3 LOCKHART 4-H Horse Club Open Show, (512) 601-1075, www.chisholmtrailhorseclub.com

3 LUBBOCK Annual Iris Show, (806) 797-6913

3 LULING Indian Artifact & Collectible Show, (512) 227-1872

3 MARBLE FALLS Howdy-Roo Chili Cookoff, (830) 693-3492

3 NEW BRAUNFELS Wein and Saengerfest, (830) 221-4091, www.nbtexas.org

3 PATTISON 25th Annual German Sausage Dinner, (281) 934-8218

3 PEARL Bluegrass Event, (254) 865-6013, www.pearlbluegrass.com

3 ROXTON Hawg Waller, (903) 346-2939

3 SAN ANGELO Arts & Crafts Show, (325) 653-7785

3 SHEPHERD Spring Fling Festival, (936) 628-3890

3 TEXARKANA Heart Walk, (903) 832-3248, www.heartwalk.kintera.org/texarkana

3 ATHENS [3-4] Lone Star Cutting Horse Show, (903) 677-6354

3 BURTON [3-4] Trade Days, 1-888-693-1243

3 COMFORT [3-4] Spring Antiques Show, (830) 995-3670, www.texasantiqueshows.com

3 CONROE [3-4] Custom Car and Truck Show, (936) 203-7216, www.gatordrag.com

3 LIVINGSTON [3-4] St. Joseph Church Bazaar, (936) 967-8385

3 LOCKHART [3-4] Cinco de Mayo Celebration, (512) 398-2818, www.lockhartchamber.com

3 MONTGOMERY [3-4] Antique Show and Sale, (713) 501-3561, www.thefriendshipcenter.com

3 SAN MARCOS [3-4] Roses of San Antonio Street, (512) 392-4362, www.heritageassociationsm.org

3 STONEWALL [3-4] Texas Bison Festival, (713) 213-4230, www.texasbisonfestival.com

3 WHITEWRIGHT [3-4] Rose Tour, (903) 364-2000

4 ATHENS Best in Texas Barrel Racing, (903) 677-6354

4 BANDERA St. Stanislaus Annual Festival, (830) 796-3573

7 COLEMAN [7-11] Juried Fine Art Show, (325) 357-4775, www.fineartsleaguecolemantx.com

8 ABILENE ArtWalk, (325) 677-8389

8 CONROE [8-10] Montgomery County Lone Star Stampede, (281) 413-5961, www.conroerodeo.com

8 CROCKETT [8-10] Lions Club PRCA Rodeo, (936) 544-0999

8 ABILENE [8-11] Western Heritage Classic, (325) 677-4376

8 MARBLE FALLS [8-11] MayFest, 1-800-759-8178, www.marblefalls.org

9 BRENHAM [9-10] Maifest, 1-888-273-6426, www.maifest.org

9 MINEOLA [9-11] Art Show 2008, (903) 569-8877, www.mlota.org

9 TEXARKANA [9-11] Big Bass Classic, (903) 791-2770

9 NEW BRAUNFELS [9-29] Free Fishing, (830) 221-4350, www.nbpard.org

10 LA GRANGE Savor the Flavor of Texas, (979) 968-6913, www.hospicebrazosvalley.org

10 ANDERSON Stagecoach Days, (936) 851-0167, www.birthplaceoftexas.com

10 BOERNE Historic Homes Tour, (830) 249-7277, www.visitboerne.org

10 COLEMAN Walk for Cure, (325) 625-3455

10 DENTON Master Gardener Association Walk, (940) 349-2883, www.dcmga.com

10 FAYETTEVILLE Texas Pickin' Park, (979) 378-2753, www.texaspickinpark.com

10 LLANO Spring Fling Starving Artist Sale and Show, (325) 247-4963

10 LUND Blackland Prairie Festival, (512) 281-2174

10 WEIMAR Gedenke! Festival, (979) 725-9511, www.weimartx.org

10 WIMBERLEY ArtWalk, (512) 847-6392

10 YANTIS Catfish Fry, (903) 383-7506

10 BOERNE [10-11] Market Days, (830) 249-5530 or (210) 844-8193, www.mainstreetinboerne.com

10 KERRVILLE [10-11] Team Roping, (806) 499-3584, www.otrc.net

10 WILLIS [10-11] Momma Mia Paddle, (936) 203-2697, www.northlakeconroepaddlingco.com

10 STEPHENVILLE [10-11, 23-24] Chicken House Flea Market, (254) 592-6674

11 GRUENE Gospel Brunch, (830) 629-5077, www.gruenehall.com

11 STONEWALL Mother's Day Brunch, (830) 644-2681, www.beckervineyards.com

15 FLOMOT [15-17] Bluegrass Festival, (806) 269-1578

15 MONTGOMERY [15-17] Bluegrass Music Festival, (281) 636-9419, www.bayareabluegrass.org

16 TEXARKANA Cruisin' Downtown T-Town, (870) 779-1655

16 GIDDINGS [16-17] Lee County Fair, (979) 542-2753, www.giddings.net

16 PLANTERSVILLE [16-17] Armed Forces Day Music Festival, (936) 894-3716, www.endoftheroadjam.com

16 SANTA ANNA [16-17] Funtier Days, (325) 348-3535

16 TEXARKANA [16-17] Jump Jive & JamFest, (903) 792-8681, www.trahc.org

16 TEXARKANA [16-17] Relay for Life, (903) 831-7913, www.cancer.org

16 WAXAHACHIE [16-17] Mini Grand Prix, (972) 938-9617

16 FREDERICKSBURG [16-18] Trade Days, (830) 990-4900, www.fredericksburgtradedays.com

16 GRAPEVINE [16-18] Main Street Days, (817) 410-3185, www.grapevinetexasusa.com

16 HENDERSON [16-18] SWRA Go-Kart Races, (903) 836-4557, www.swra.org

16 LIVINGSTON [16-18] Trade Days, (936) 327-3656, www.cityoflivingston-tx.com/tradedays

16 SAN ANTONIO [16-18] Charity Antique Show, (254) 865-8210

17 LAKEHILLS Medina Lake Barbecue Cook-Off, (830) 612-2700, www.medinalakebarbecuecookoff.com

17 AUSTIN Mighty Texas Dog Walk, (512) 891-9090, www.servicedogs.org

17 BOERNE Art in the Park, (830) 249-4616, www.ciboloarts.org

17 COLEMAN Heartland Harmonizers, (325) 625-4136

17 FLOMOT Hardin & Turner Western Trade Day, (940) 585-8085

17 FREDERICKSBURG Dog Trot, (830) 990-9085, www.hillcountryspca.com

17 FREDERICKSBURG Roots Music Series, (830) 997-2835

17 GREENVILLE Garden Tour & Plant Sale, (903) 455-9885

17 HONDO Old Iron Trail Ride, (830) 741-8922, http://old-iron-trail-ride.0catch.com

17 LBJ RANCH 1960s BBQ on the Pedernales, (830) 868-7128, www.nps.gov/lyjo

17 MARSHALL Stagecoach Days, 1-800-953-7868, www.marshall-chamber.com

17 NEDERLAND Cajun Celebration, (409) 983-5118

17 PLAINVIEW Pioneer Round-Up, (806) 296-6440

17 VALLEY SPRING VFD Fish Fry, (325) 247-3158

17 WASHINGTON Children's Fishing Derby, (936) 878-2214, www.birthplaceoftexas.com

17 ABILENE [17-18] Texas Gun & Knife Show, (325) 676-6211

17 GRUENE [17-18] Old Gruene Market Days, (830) 832-1721, www.gruenemarketdays.com

17 PORT NECHES [17-18] Trade Days, (409) 722-4023

17 STONEWALL [17-18] Lavender Fest, (830) 644-2681, www.beckervineyards.com

17 MOUNT PLEASANT Moonlight Jubilee Festival, (903) 572-8567

18 BUFFALO GAP Vintage Base Ball, (325) 572-3365

18 GRUENE Americana Music Jam, (830) 629-5077, www.gruenehall.com

18 TEXARKANA Four States Triathlon, (903) 614-4441, www.christusstmichaelfitness.org

18 LA GRANGE Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church Homecoming Picnic, (979) 968-3938, www.mtcalvary-lcms.org

20 ATHENS 44th Annual Farm & Ranch Tour, (903) 675-5181, http://athenscc.org

22 KERRVILLE [22-July 6] Southwest Gourd Fine Art Show, (830) 895-2911, www.kacckerrville.com

22 KERRVILLE [22-June 8] Folk Festival, (830) 257-3600

22 GUSTINE [22-24] Homecoming, Rodeo and Run, (325) 667-7417, www.gustinehomecoming.com

23 FREDERICKBURG [23-24] Crawfish Festival, 1-866-839-3378, www.tex-fest.com

23 KERRVILLE [23-26] Texas State Arts & Crafts Fair, (830) 896-5711, www.tacef.com

24 COLEMAN Sesquicentennial Military Program, (325) 625-2163

24 JACKSBORO Guys & Gals Car Show, (940) 845-2515

24 MANOR Chip Fest (512) 272-5699, www.manorchamberofcommerce.com

24 MARSHALL Lone Star Wing Fly-in, (903) 687-4695

24 STARTZVILLE Chili Cook-Off, (830) 899-7774

24 WHITEWRIGHT Fiddle Fest, (903) 364-2000

24 ELLINGER [24-25] May Festival, (979) 378-2311

24 KERRVILLE [24-25] Market Days, (830) 895-4655, www.kerrmarketdays.com

24 PORT ARTHUR [24-25] Salt Fishing Rodeo, (409) 963-0433

24 ROCKPORT [24-25] Festival of Wine and Food, 1-866-729-2469, www.texasfestivalofwines.com

24 WILLIS [24-26] Remembrance Paddle, (936) 203-2697, www.northlakeconroepaddlingco.com

24 LUCKENBACH [24-26] 150th Birthday Celebration, 1-888-311-8990

26 HONEY GROVE Memorial Day Celebration, (903) 378-7211

29 BOERNE Concert Band, (830) 249-7277

29 TEXARKANA [29-31] Bulldog 100, (903) 838-4541

30 BRYAN [30-31, June 1] Texas Shoot-Out Miniature Donkey Show, (830) 868-4645, www.southwesterndonkeymulesociety.com

30 PORT ARTHUR [30-June 1] Redfish Tournament, 1-800-235-7822

30 ATHENS 77th Annual Old Fiddlers Reunion, 1-888-294-2847

31 BURTON Half Pint Rodeo, (979) 255-4870, www.freewebs.com/halfpintrodeo

31 TEXARKANA Balla Bash, (870) 773-2941, www.fourstatesfair.com

This information is brought to you as a public service of the The HBH Group Realty Team with Keller Williams Realty. You may learn more about us at our websites located at: http://www.TheHBHGroup.com/ and http://www.TheHBHGroup.biz/ or contact our offices at (512) 439-3772 or toll-free at (877) 268-1877. We teach a monthly real estate investment seminar in the Greater Austin area and YOU ARE INVITED to this FREE event. Simply call our offices to reserve you seats! Also ask about the investors club that we are forming in the North Austin markets currently - We would love to have you participate!

Want more GREAT INFORMATION LIKE THIS? Just CLICK HERE:

CLICK HERE to view our current Virtual Tours of properties on one of the team’s web sites.

Here are some other Buyer's Resources from Our Website: Seven steps to buying your home
Deciding how much house you can afford Making your home wish list Opting for new home construction
How can a real estate agent help me? 10 things you should ask a real estate agent
Location, Location, Location Mortgage Calculator Contact us about buying your home

And some seller's resources as well:Eight steps to selling your home
How can a real estate agent help me sell my home Practicing good seller's etiquette
How to price to sell and still make a profit Understanding the buyer Increasing your home's appeal
Mortgage Calculator Contact us about selling a property

The HBH Group/HBH Property Management
101 E. Old Settlers Blvd., Suite 190
Round Rock, TX 78664

To contact us:
Phone: 512-439-3772
Toll-Free: 877-268-1877
Fax: 512-579-4248
E-mail: info@TheHBHGroup.com
Websites: http://www.TheHBHGroup.com/
http://www.TheHBHGroup.biz/
Blogs: http://wcrestate.blogspot.com/
http://www.activerain.com/blogs/stevehomer

Free Real Estate Investing Training and Seminars - from The HBH Group

The HBH Group offers FREE monthly seminars to teach the principles of "The Millionaire Real Estate Investor", the groundbreaking new book that offers the novice real estate investor proven models and systems to create wealth with real estate. Here are some examples of the success stories that are shared in our seminars as well as a synapsis of the book:

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When Wendy Patton bought her first investment property she was living in a hotel, made $20,000 a year, and owed that much in student loans. Today Wendy has bought and sold more than 600 houses.

Jimmy and Linda McKissack struggled for years to turn a restaurant and nightclub into a sustainable business. They began supplementing their income though investment properties. Within five years they went from a handful of investment homes to 83 residential properties worth over $10 million.

When Danny Williams accepted an early retirement package from Delta, he owned 11 rental properties and had two children in college. Danny says he's now "totally unemployable" by choice and in complete control of his destiny.

Based on extensive research and interviews with over 120 millionaire real estate investors like these, Gary Keller's new "how to" guide reveals the models, strategies and fundamental truths millionaires use to become wealthy through real estate investing.

His latest book, The Millionaire Real Estate Investor, written with Dave Jenks and Jay Papasan, hits bookstores just as real estate investing has gone mainstream. According to the National Association of REALTORS, in 2004 nearly a third of all sales were second homes or investments.

"By tapping the wisdom of millionaire investors from across the country, we're sharing investment models that can be duplicated by anyone in any market." Keller explains, "These are the foundational strategies every investor must know in order to maximize their financial wealth."

But the book isn't just about real estate. Through his research Keller discovered that millionaires think about money quite differently than others. As a result, this book also takes a hard look at the money myths that hold some people back and the money truths that lets others soar. The book begins by exploring the "MythUnderstandings" about the way people view investing. For example, Keller explains despite what most people think, investing by definition and design isn't risky. Millionaire Real Estate Investors employ time-tested strategies to avoid risk and, in the end, take luck out of the game.

By the end of the book readers will be able to:

• Think a Million: Develop the financial literacy and mindset of a millionaire investor
• Buy a Million: Amass a real estate portfolio with a market value of a million dollars or more
• Own a Million: Turn investments into an asset-based business with ever-increasing net worth
• Receive a Million: Build an investment empire that provides a million dollars a year in passive income

Keller concludes with twenty-one inspiring and enlightening profiles of real-life Millionaire Real Estate Investors whose wisdom permeates the book, as well as appendices containing a series of easy-to-use worksheets.

According to Mike Summey, co-author of the bestselling The Weekend Millionaire's Secrets to Investing in Real Estate, "This book is not just a bargain, it's a steal. It's filled with practical, workable advice for anyone wanting to build wealth."

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Call (512) 439-3772 today to reserve your seat in our next FREE seminar. The next few months will hold some great opportunity to purchase properties at deep discounts. Don't pass up this chance to get a head start on financial freedom through real estate investing.

Want more GREAT INFORMATION LIKE THIS? Just CLICK HERE:

Other articles on Property Investment:

1. Looking for Property Management in Round Rock?
2. Investment in Texas Can Help You Retire Early!
3. It's Time to Invest in Real Estate, Conservatively!
4. Why Flipping Homes Can Carry Strong Liability
5. Foreclosures are Always a Bargain! Yea, Right!
6. Texas is a GREAT Place to Live and Invest!
7. Round Rock Real Estate makes the News...
8. The Tale of the Foolish Real Estate Investor

Here are some other Buyer's Resources from Our Website: Seven steps to buying your home
Deciding how much house you can afford Making your home wish list Opting for new home construction
How can a real estate agent help me? 10 things you should ask a real estate agent
Location, Location, Location Mortgage Calculator Contact us about buying your home

And some seller's resources as well:Eight steps to selling your home
How can a real estate agent help me sell my home Practicing good seller's etiquette
How to price to sell and still make a profit Understanding the buyer Increasing your home's appeal
Mortgage Calculator Contact us about selling a property

The HBH Group/HBH Property Management
101 E. Old Settlers Blvd., Suite 190
Round Rock, TX 78664

To contact us:
Phone: 512-439-3772
Toll-Free: 877-268-1877
Fax: 512-579-4248
E-mail: info@TheHBHGroup.com
Websites: http://www.TheHBHGroup.com/
http://www.TheHBHGroup.biz/
Blogs: http://wcrestate.blogspot.com/
http://www.activerain.com/blogs/stevehomer

Investment opportunities are coming on strong in coming months. Now is the time to prepare. Listen to Dave Ramsey's advice about creating wealth with your lifestyle. Watch this video:

Today Does Matter - What are You Doing With It?

Dr. John Maxwell is one of the most recognized business and motivational speakers of our day. He has authored more than thirty books, focusing his work on leadership and its impact on business, church and personal life. I have been a student of Dr. Maxwell's works for years now and would like to focus this article on one of my favorite books by him: Today Matters.

"Successful people make important decisions early in their life and then manage those decisions the rest of their life." - John C. Maxwell

This book centers around this theme and the truth in it. If you want to accomplish something in life, you have to have goals and a direction to carry you there. Most people spend their lifetime "wishing" they could achieve certain dreams and aspirations, when the secret to achieveing those things is in simple planning and organization.

This book, Today Matters, focuses the reader on 12 simple policies that a successful person must master to achieve their life's mission and their goals. These principles are:

1. Today's attitude Gives Me Possibilities.
2. Today's priorities Give Me Focus.
3. Today's Health Gives Me Strength.
4. Today's Family Gives Me Stability.
5. Today's Thinking Gives Me an Advantage.
6. Today's Commitment Gives Me Tenancity.
7. Today's Finances Gives Me Options.
8. Today's Faith Gives Me Peace.
9. Today's Relationships Give Me Fulfillment.
10.Today's Generousity Gives me Significance.
11.Today's Values Give Me Direction.
12.Today's Growth Give Me Potential.

What a powerful collection of life habits are featured in this book. I am still in process of mastering these concepts, but what I have already learned and implemented has changed my life, my family and my business. I not only have several copies of the book, but have the CD version and listen to it frequently in my car.

If you ramble aimlessly from day to day, please get a copy of this book and start to put these concepts to use in your life. You will not be sorry!

If I can help you in any way along your walk in life, please don't hesitate to call me. Take a look at Dr. Maxwell in action in the following video:

Want more GREAT INFORMATION LIKE THIS? Just CLICK HERE:

Other articles on Property Investment:

1. Looking for Property Management in Round Rock?
2. Investment in Texas Can Help You Retire Early!
3. It's Time to Invest in Real Estate, Conservatively!
4. Why Flipping Homes Can Carry Strong Liability
5. Foreclosures are Always a Bargain! Yea, Right!
6. Texas is a GREAT Place to Live and Invest!
7. Round Rock Real Estate makes the News...
8. 
   The Tale of the Foolish Real Estate Investor

Here are some other Buyer's Resources from Our Website: Seven steps to buying your home
Deciding how much house you can afford Making your home wish list Opting for new home construction
How can a real estate agent help me? 10 things you should ask a real estate agent
Location, Location, Location Mortgage Calculator Contact us about buying your home

And some seller's resources as well:Eight steps to selling your home
How can a real estate agent help me sell my home Practicing good seller's etiquette
How to price to sell and still make a profit Understanding the buyer Increasing your home's appeal
Mortgage Calculator Contact us about selling a property

The HBH Group/HBH Property Management
101 E. Old Settlers Blvd., Suite 190
Round Rock, TX 78664

To contact us:
Phone: 512-439-3772
Toll-Free: 877-268-1877
Fax: 512-579-4248
E-mail: info@TheHBHGroup.com
Websites: http://www.TheHBHGroup.com/
http://www.TheHBHGroup.biz/
Blogs: http://wcrestate.blogspot.com/
http://www.activerain.com/blogs/stevehomer

Amber Alerts Go Wireless!

CLICK HERE to sign up for wireless Amber Alerts to be sent directly to your cell phone so you can be on the look out for missing/exploited children as soon as the event happens!

Country Home on 1/2 acre lot in Thorndale, TX

Welcome to 306 W. Moerbe St in Thorndale, TX. CLICK HERE to see a virtual tour of this lovely home. Located on a large .5 acre lot within the city limits, this home is close to schools and in a wonderful. quiet country setting. Offering 3 spacious bedrooms and large, open living areas, the seller has recently replaced much of the carpet and repainted the interior of the home. The large lot has been used to build a huge workshop with electrical, plumbed out for a half-bath within an office space. Compressed air is also installed in the shop.

This home is offered at only $175K and is the lowest with these features, size and shop included within the Thorndale, Taylor and Thrall markets. Call today to schedule a showing!

This information is brought to you as a public service of the The HBH Group Realty Team with Keller Williams Realty. You may learn more about us at our websites located at: http://www.TheHBHGroup.com/ and http://www.TheHBHGroup.biz/ or contact our offices at (512) 439-3772 or toll-free at (877) 268-1877.

Foreclosures are Abundant! And YOU CAN BUY THEM CHEAP!

Yea, right! I work a good bit with investors and most seem to think that foreclosures are a steal and you can rob the bank when you purchase them. Well I would like to act as the Texas Mythbuster when it comes to foreclosure properties in the Austin area. There are several reasons why foreclosures in this area are not as attractive as the general public believes and I would like to use this article and possibly a few more to dispel this myth. Here are a few important points:

1. Once a bank has foreclosed on a property, the real property becomes what is known in the banking world as an REO (real estate owned by a bank). Banks have complete departments that work maintaining their inventory of properties and often these properties are purchased at the same cost as what the bank had loaned against the asset with other costs added on top when they calculate the value of that property.
2. I suspect that in many areas of the country the market is moving down so fast that banks are much more flexible on what they will sell these REO properties for, since they could be loosing value every day as the market values deflate. This is NOT the case in Central Texas and the bankers know it. They also know that we have many active RE investors here that are in the market buying properties now.
3. The bank REO departments have very little maintenance costs associated with an REO property. They turn off all the utilities, and really only have taxes and HOA dues to maintain each property, so costs to let them sit are almost nill. Since the market here is fairly stable, holding a property for longer term is not a problem for a bank. When my job depends on how much money I make for the b, I am much less motivated to wheel and deal here than in other areas. Further, there are usually several signature authorities that approve deals for the bank, making it harder to get all the parties within the bank to come to agreement when the deal is a money loser.
4. Some of the toughest deals I have been involved in recently are bank deals because of these reasons. Even when the banks are involved in negotiating a short sale, the motivations are just not there to reduce price to the point where it is attractive to most investors. We see many properties here that end up in foreclosure because of bank inflexibility. And before the properties go to auction, the banks buy them up at the mortgage amount and take them into REO inventory to wait out the process to get their whole investment sums back.
5. I talk to brokers all over the country and they all tell me things are more loose where they are. Banks are flexible; often willing to take a loss than to go into foreclosure and my team and I have just not seen that in this area.

For these reasons and more, I encourage my investors to get the properties from an individual BEFORE they go to a bank or even to a short sale. The deals are better and more flexible. Closing go smoother. Everyone walks away happier.

If however you choose to shop for REO/Foreclosed properties in Central Texas, remember the following:

1. Make sure you have the patience of Job - the wheels of bankdom grind VERY slowly!
2. Expect that you will not get a steal of a deal! There just are not many out there. Invest for the long term to get appreciation which in this market is steady and solid.
3. Remeber that many of the short sale and foreclosed properties here were taken with 100% finance situations in place, so the "deals" are even less in this sort of world, especially when the banks are looking for 100% recovery of their losses.

I would love to hear from others around the country with your experiences in working with the banks, HUD's, VA's etc. Is this just a Central Texas issue or are things tough all over when dealing with financial organizations?

Thanks for reading!
Steve Homer
Broker-Associate, The HBH Group/Keller Williams Realty
Round Rock, TX

This information is brought to you as a public service of the The HBH Group Realty Team with Keller Williams Realty. You may learn more about us at our websites located at: http://www.TheHBHGroup.com/ and http://www.TheHBHGroup.biz/ or contact our offices at (512) 439-3772 or toll-free at (877) 268-1877.

This will bless you!

To all my Christian Music readers:

If you love great Christian music, this group recently presented concerts at my church here in Round Rock, TX and they so blessed me that I thought I would share their ministry with you. The name of the group is Testify and they are from West Monroe, LA. Their music has many different tints and flavors, and you can sample many of their numbers by checking them out on YouTube.com - search for the term testifyfan and you can find several. One of my favorites is: "The Deeper The Valley" (See video below) which inspires me in my personal and business life. You can also learn more about where to get their music at Their Website.

I hope this group and their music is a blessing to you and if you have any clients or investors interested in the Austin Texas area, please contact me!

Thanks!
Steve Homer
The HBH Group Real Estate Team
Keller Williams Realty
Round Rock, TX - The 8th fastest growing area in the USA per Entrepreneur Magazine (2008)