Summertime....And the Living is Easy in Country Place Subdivision

A buyer called me a couple of months ago and described what he and his wife were looking for.  He wanted a home in a neighborhood with lots of trees on an acre or two, close to a lake, but not too far from Tyler, 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, around 3,000 square feet, Whitehouse schools....I immediately thought "COUNTRY PLACE"!

Country Place, which is located off of FM 346 between Hwy 69 and Paluxy Drive,  is the epitomy of East Texas living with rolling hills, trees, lakes,  and  lot sizes of a couple of acres or more.  Just a few short miles from Tyler, Country place affords its residents the privilege of  experiencing a peaceful, quiet, laid back country lifestyle without feeling deprived of all Tyler has to offer.
For more information about the wonderful Country Place community, here's a link: http://www.countryplacetyler.com/html/about.html

I've sold several Country Place homes over the last 10 years, including this wonderfully rustic family home located at 19361 Lakeshore Drive.  The young family that purchased it back in 2008 are moving to Oklahoma for job related reasons.  With two young sons, this home was a perfect fit for their family.  They love their neighborhood with its many trees, lakes, and peaceful natural setting where their boys can play and explore, and where deer can often be spotted. This great home is now once again for sale and  is ready to welcome a new family to Country Place.
For a virtual tour of this home click here:


http://vt.realbiz360.com/Listing-688674.html

19361 Lakeshore Drive  $299,900

This 2994 sq. ft. 4 bedroom home features a gourmet kitchen with granite countertops, gas range, 2 ovens, hammered copper sink, and custom cabinets, living room with adjoining sunroom, gorgeous hardwood floors and stained concrete. Master suite is downstairs and features an adjoining library with a cozy fireplace, beautiful bath, large closet, and hardwood flooring. There is a guest bath downstairs, as well as a formal dining room.  Upstairs features 3 bedrooms and a bath. There is large space in the unfinished area above garage that could be made into additional living space.  For more information click this link to my website listing of this property


http://www.bettysellstyler.com/listing-19361%2Blakeshore%2Bdrive-14098.html

Fish, read a book, or just sit and think...This beautiful setting allows you to take a break from the hustle and bustle of city life with it's stress and trouble!








So, what did my shoes look like today?  I wore my camo sandals....you never know when you will need to camoflage yourself to spy on one of those Country Place deer!

Where did this REALTOR'S shoes go today? Hollytree Country Club Development

There is just something about Hollytree that makes me feel like I am on vacation as soon as I pass through the main entrance off of Grande Blvd. People are playng golf on the lush green course, joggers in color coordinated jogging attire smile and wave as I pass, and the tennis courts are full of people who are serious about tennis or at least are wearing outfits to look the part. It seems as if the air is fresher, the colors of the expertly manicured landscape are more vivid, the birds sing sweeter, and the sun shines brighter in this idyllic neighborhood. It is such a wonderful and relaxing feeling! But then I come to my senses and realize.....I'm not on vacation, and I don't even live here.....I'm working today!

There are currently 42 homes listed in Hollytree with prices ranging from $250,000 for a garden home in Hollytree Place to a magnificent 5300 sq. ft.  Mediteranean showplace situated on over 1.4 acres on Royal Oak Drive, and priced at $1,495,000. There are homes built in the 80's, and new homes as well. There are a few smaller homes under 2600 square feet, but most of the homes are much larger than that. If you want to live the good life in Hollytree, it is very possible that there is a home there that would work for your lifestyle and budget.  Golf, Tennis, Swimming, and Social memberships are available if homeowners desire them, but they are not required. Here is a link for more information:

http://www.hollytreeclub.com/view.asp?id=156&page=2447

My reason for being in Hollytree today was to show some buyer clients of mine 6802 La Costa, which is priced at $307,000, and features 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, and 2 living areas.  The kitchen has gorgeous granite counter tops, marble backsplashes, an island, and stainless appliances.  Everything you would expect in an upscale neighborhood, but at such an affordable price.  The home showed well as it always does, and there have been 3 other showings just in the past 2 days.  I don't expect to have this listing much longer because it will be SOLD!  See the virtual tour: http://vt.realbiz360.com/MLS-611693.html

If you want to view all the homes listed in Hollytree, visit my webite http://www.bettysellstyler.com/ click on "Tyler Neighborhoods" and then select Hollytree from the drop down list.  Call me if you are interested...I can show you any of the homes listed.

These are the shoes this REALTOR wore today.  It's time to take them off now, put on my sparkly house shoes and watch Glee.

Just like picking money up off the ground?

HOW HARD CAN IT BE TO SELL A HOUSE? A few years ago, some clients of mine who had listed their home with me, received a contract to purchase it in a matter of days As we were sitting at the kitchen table while they signed the contract, the husband looked at me and said "This is just like picking money up off the ground for you, isn't it?" Although he was smiling, I could tell that he really felt that way. After all, it appeared as if all I had really done was write the listing agreement, take some pictures, upload everything to MLS, put a sign in the yard, and a lockbox on the door, and Bam! A buyer's agent brings me a contract and I'm due a fat commission ... "just like picking money up off the ground!"

My husband and I sold four homes before I got my real estate license in 2001. Each time, we listed the house for sale with a REALTOR. Our homes always sold rather quickly. It seemed that the REALTOR didn't really have to do much work since the house seemed to sell itself. I remember looking at the settlement statement while sitting at the closing table and thinking "Wow….what exactly did the REALTOR do to earn this much money?”

So, what makes using a REALTOR to sell your house worth that seemingly big fee and why should you use one? About 80 percent of homes are sold with the help of a real estate agent, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Here are a few reasons it pays to list your home with a REALTOR:

Setting the right price. One of the first things I present to a seller is a comparative market analysis which is based on recent sales in a given area and is the basis for my recommended list price. Setting the right price is crucial in home sales, because an inflated asking price can turn away buyers. An accurate assessment of the market is essential to price a home correctly. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, sellers who use a real estate agent receive on average 20 percent more for their homes than those who sell their own homes.

Marketing expertise. I will devise and implement a marketing plan to sell your home. This may include coordinating open houses, advertising via newspaper and magazines, printing and distributing brochures, producing virtual tours for Internet use, and showing your house to potential buyers. This involves time, money, creativity, and expertise. I have a website which includes my listings as well as a search feature for the entire MLS system in the greater Tyler area. A strong Internet presence is a MUST since most buyers today go to the Internet first to search for a home. My website BettySellsTyler.com is my biggest source for connecting with buyers. I use pay per click advertising and attract hundreds of buyers to my website each week. My listings can also be found on realtor.com, remax.com, and countless other real estate websites via Internet Data Exchange.

The MLS and the REALTOR'S contacts. The multiple listing service, or MLS, is a database of all the homes for sale by real estate agents in a particular region. Once a home is listed, information about it can be accessed by all the agents in the area and matched to buyers: in effect, your home is being sold by not one person, but by hundreds. If your home is not listed with a REALTOR, it is not listed on MLS.ve exclusive

Objectivity. When selling, a real estate agent can provide an unemotional view of the home and what needs to be added or subtracted to make it more appealing to buyers. I try to see the home through "Buyer's eyes", and address deterrents to presenting the home as an appealing place to live. I am an ASP, or Accredited Staging Professional, and have had extensive training on how to make your home attractive to buyers.

Drafting skills. As a REALTOR, I draft contracts, know the information that must be included in the documents, and can also advise you about what stipulations you should make in the contract. Real estate contracts in Texas are 8 pages long and soon will be even longer. Having someone help you understand what each paragraph of the contract means is a necessity these days.

Negotiation and closing assistance. A real estate agent can provide advice to sellers when deciding whether to accept or modify an offer or counter-offer. Once an offer has been accepted, I will assist the Seller with going over inspection reports, help with repair negotiations, and ensure that all stipulations in the contract are complete. I will keep a finger on the pulse of the transaction until the sale is completed.

Here is the bottom line. As a full time REALTOR, I am involved in the business of real estate and handle real estate transactions EVERY DAY. I KNOW real estate, not only from the required education I received in order to take the real estate exam and maintain my real estate license, but also from my 10 years of practical experience actually selling real estate. I can help you avoid common pitfalls and maneuver the real estate "jungle" successfully with fewer headaches, less stress, less time wasted, and more money in your pocket.

Is selling real estate like picking up money off the ground?.....well, not exactly!