Will my soon-to-be-ex-spouse have to sign the contracts, too?

My wife and I bought a house together a few years ago, and now we’re getting divorced. Neither of us wants to keep the house, so we’ve agreed to hire a real estate broker to list the property. Will we both have to sign the contract to work with the broker? Would we both have to sign to accept an offer? Most likely, yes to both questions. Assuming both you and your wife own the property, any real estate broker will need authorization from both of you to market and sell the property. A signed listing agreement between both of you and the real estate broker will provide the necessary authorization. Additionally, any offer to purchase the property will need to be signed by both of you in order to be considered accepted. Keep in mind that if divorce proceedings have already been initiated, you will need to inform your attorneys, if any, about the plans to sell the property so that they can obtain any necessary authorization from the divorce court.

Perfect Island Hideaway

Sunchase beachfront #225 This second floor condo is located in an exclusive gated, two-story complex located in the center of town, within easy walking distance of dining and shopping areas. Sunchase Beachfront has tropical landscaping with pools, hot tubs, tennis courts, weight room and laundry room. Don't wait, make this condo your own tropical hideaway!

5 tips to hire the right moving company

It’s a great feeling when you've found the property of your dreams. It’s not such a great feeling to start planning how you’ll move your belongings into it. Hiring movers can help you take some of the stress out of your move, but only if you find the right one. In addition to review and ratings websites, word-of-mouth recommendations are a good way to identify your options. Your Texas Realtor is another great resource for learning about reputable movers in your area. Once you have a few companies in mind, narrow down the competition with these tips. Three is the magic number Choosing one company without doing your research could lead to a frustrating experience, but calling a dozen moving companies for estimates can take too much time. Instead, decide on at least three companies you want to learn more about. You’ll get a good sense for average rates and offerings for your area. You may even be able to use their estimates to your advantage later. Get an in-person assessment Most people aren’t a good judge of how much stuff they have, and while some companies have online tools that create an estimate using your best guess, you should ask your picks to visit your home and take inventory for an accurate estimate. During an in-person assessment, you’ll be asked about what you’re planning to take, the moving supplies you need, and about your heavy or fragile items. Your movers will need to know the layout of your new property, too, so don’t forget to tell them about the three flights of stairs or that they’ll have to park on the street. Ask questions There are plenty of questions you can ask depending on your situation, but make sure to get answers to these in particular: Are you licensed for in- or out-of-state moves? The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles licenses moving companies, which must have an active TxDMV certificate on file to operate legally. Find out if a company is licensed at apps.txdmv.gov/apps/mccs/truckstop. What type of insurance do you carry? (They should at least carry workers’ compensation insurance.) What insurance coverage do you offer for my belongings? (valuation or replacement coverage) Can I pack myself? Will my items be covered if so? Is your crew bonded? (protection in case of employee theft, vandalism) Are there items you won’t transport? (light bulbs, batteries, gas) Don’t hold back information Be upfront about what you need your movers to do, whether it’s packing and unloading, assembling or dissembling items, or heavy lifting. You may think you can get a deal by glossing over details, but you’ll ultimately pay more for your hidden extras, and your movers won’t be pleased. Negotiate the deal You’ll receive an estimate from your moving companies based on several factors, such as the distance of the move and the potential gas expense, the weight or square footage that your items will use in the moving van, and labor costs. This is where having more than one estimate will come in handy. Don’t be afraid to tell your top pick if you’ve received a lower estimate that appeals to you, or roughly how much you want to spend. Look for other areas in which you can negotiate, such as free junk-hauling services or reduced rates for extra supplies or a different move date. Your movers can be a huge help, but only if you put in the effort to choose the right one.

Just Listed!

123 Golf House Rd. Laguna Vista, TX 78578 This is another beautiful custom home built by Bubba Vann of Gallery Built Homes. The backyard is a tropical paradise with has the safety of a gated, heated pool as well as a hot tub and fire pit. The private backyard provides you with cool breezes and afternoon shade. The inside of the home boasts vaulted ceilings, custom cabinets and granite counters in the kitchen and restrooms. Don't miss your opportunity to own a piece of tropical paradise!

5 design trends for new homes

Privacy, personal elements, and practicality are a few of the features that buyers purchasing new homes desire, according to experts interviewed by Builder magazine. Here’s what designs those experts say are popular this year. Private outdoor spaces. Buyers are looking for outdoor areas that have some privacy from nearby houses. Outdoor “rooms.” These covered outdoor spaces adjoin interior rooms but provide access to outside. Personal touches. Those buyers purchasing new or existing homes are looking for ways to introduce their personal touch in a home, typically through custom fixtures, flooring, and kitchen designs. More room in the garage. Cars aren’t the only items homeowners store in garages. Buyers are looking for extra space to expand their storage options. Small and efficient. Some buyers are looking at smaller homes seeking energy efficiency and functional spaces. Read about nine other design trends in “14 New-Home Design Trends for 2014” on Builder magazine’s website.

Bands on the Beach

Come on over and listen to the live music and watch the fireworks during Bands on the Beach! September 5th – October 31st every Friday & Saturday at 7pm at Clayton’s Beach Bar.

Port Isabel Lighthouse Market Days

While you’re at the Port Isabel Lighthouse Market Days on October 11th, make sure you take advantage of the $1 admission to the museums!

Own a piece of tropical paradise!

Click HERE for more information on this property. Enjoy spectacular views and breathe in the fresh Gulf breeze from the balcony of this charming beachfront condo. Kick back and relax year-round in the heated pool. The brick walls and tiled floor creates a charming ambiance. This gated complex has onsite management and a well established rental program.

Why you may want to consider condos in your home search

If an abundance of options is a priority in your search for a new Texas home, consider adding condos and townhomes to your list of prospective properties. These homes come in many different forms, and greater demand for condos has led to increased inventory, which means even more options for buyers. Check out the 2014 Texas Condominium Mid-Year Sales Report

to see how condo and townhome sales have been performing this year. This 11-page PDF breaks down the sales numbers in the state's four major metros.

Let your imagination run wild!

Click HERE for more information on this property. Great Lot Located in the best location in South Padre Island! Beautiful scenery of the Queen Isabella & the Laguna Madre Bay!

New Listing - 1849 Oklahoma Port Isabel, TX

Click HERE for more information on this property. This is a perfect starter home located in the heart of Port Isabel, on a corner lot. A short 5 minute drive to the beautiful beaches of South Padre Island. This home has a large backyard which is big enough to add a pool if you like.

Just Listed! 123 Golf House Rd. Laguna Vista, TX 78578

Click HERE for property information. This is another beautiful custom home built by Bubba Vann of Gallery Built Homes. The backyard is a tropical paradise with has the safety of a gated, heated pool as well as a hot tub and fire pit. The private backyard provides you with cool breezes and afternoon shade. The inside of the home boasts vaulted ceilings, custom cabinets and granite counters in the kitchen and restrooms. Don't miss your opportunity to own a piece of tropical paradise! Call me today to schedule a showing (956) 433-6291

You’d love to own that house, but how much should you offer for it?

You found the home of your dreams and everything feels just right. You want to ask your Texas REALTOR® “Where do I sign?” But before you submit an offer on the property, you have to decide how much that offer should be. So, how do you arrive at a number? Here's where it’s in your best interest to work with a Texas REALTOR® … and it’s why so many people do. In fact, a 2013 consumer survey found that the top three things buyers want from their real estate agent are help finding the right home to purchase, help with price negotiations, and help negotiating the terms of sale. When you’re ready to submit an offer, your Texas REALTOR® will use his or her resources and knowledge of the market to find the selling prices for comparable homes in the area that sold recently. This means he or she will look for properties nearby that have features similar to the one you’re interested in—square footage and number of bedrooms, for instance—to determine its market value. This number may differ from the asking price. Using the sale prices for comparable properties and other factors that can affect the property’s value, your Texas REALTOR® will help you present a strong offer to the sellers that gets you one step closer to the closing table.

Quick and free way to find out if it's time to buy

If you’re thinking of buying property, you’ll probably apply for a mortgage. But before lenders decide what they’re willing to offer you, they’ll want some financial background, such as your employment history, salary, bank-account balances, and your credit history.

Know your status before a lender does 
While you could wait to find out how your financial picture appears to lenders after they’ve decided whether to loan you money, you’d be better off finding out first. One way is to request a free credit report so you can see what a lender might see.

What is a credit report? 
A credit report shows how much you borrow, whether you pay on time, or if you’ve been sued or declared bankruptcy. A credit report is not the same as a credit score. It usually costs money to find out what your credit score is, and can vary depending on the source you obtain it from.

How do you get a free credit report? 
You can request one free credit report every 12 months from each of the three major consumer credit-reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. But you don’t have to get all three reports at once. Obtaining one report at time, like quarterly, can help you monitor changes and is a good way to find out if you’ve become a victim of identity theft.

How does your credit report help you buy a house? 
A credit report gives you insights into your financial habits. For example, you’ll see how well you do at paying debts on time and if you tend to borrow within your means. Checking your credit report now also gives you a chance to find errors, which you can correct before they affect your ability to qualify for a mortgage loan. And if you find legitimate flaws, you might be able to take steps to improve your credit standing before purchasing a property.

Ask your Texas REALTOR ® for help with the mortgage loan process, and see if he or she may be able to help you find resources to repair your credit if necessary.