Monthly Archives: October 2018

 

The weather is cooling, and the tourists are returning home as we enter into one of the most blissful times of year in Baytown, TX. All around the area, visitors and residents of the community will find endless activities for the whole family. If you are not sure where to start, take a look at a few our suggestions to consider this fall!

Have Fun with Oktoberfest

In neighboring Houston, there are plenty of festivities surrounding the celebration of Oktoberfest – an ancient royal holiday that originated in Munich, where Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildurboughausen. The beginning of October brings all the celebrations – including food, fun, and dancing.

Get Local

Fall in Baytown specifically brings about the local farmers market. Hosted in the Town Square on the third Saturday of each month, this is the chance to truly get a taste of the local flavor. The market is a great opportunity to support Baytown’s farmers, artists, and entrepreneurs – an interconnected community is a strong one. Additionally, the market is a perfect event for the whole family with activities to support and entertain everyone.

Get Your Speed on with LEGAL Street Racing

Got a need for speed? You aren’t alone – come participate every Friday in Houston Raceway Park Legal Street Racing at the Houston Raceway in Baytown. This is the perfect opportunity to race your friends or try to beat the famous times – remember though, you must participate at the Royal Purple Raceway (not legal on all streets!)

For the Nature Lovers

Are you a nature lover interested in wildlife? If yes, this fall the Audubon Bird Survey could be the perfect event for you. On the third Thursday of every month, the Houston Audubon partners with the Baytown Nature Center in the monthly count of the birds at the nature center. This event offers participants a view of the 300+ species habiting in this area.

Give Back to the Community

On October 27^th of this year, the Connect Church of Christ Ladies’ and Men’s Ministries will host the Hats & Bow Ties Cancer Awareness Tea Party – an opportunity for participants to “express love and honor to survivors of cancer, celebrate the lives of loved ones who have passed on, and educate family and friends on ways to stay healthy and bring awareness to the disease.” This event provides donations to cancer research and is a perfect reflection of how the Baytown community gives back.

How About Some History?

October 20^th in Galveston is not an event to miss – enjoy beer on the historic 1877 ELISSA, an iron-hulled ship built in Aderbeen, Scotland that spent 90 years carrying cargo to ports around the world (and is still functioning today!). The Galveston is the Official Tall Ship of Texas, and its birthday month is October. On this day, attendees can honor its birth while enjoying drafts – featuring brews from Saint Arnold Brewing Company.

Get in the Water

Fall doesn’t necessarily bring cold weather to the community – which is great for those who love to be outside. With tourist season winding down, there is more room for locals to get out and enjoy the community. Head out to Trinity Bay and pick your poison – the local water sports stores offer kayaks, canoes, boat rentals, and jet skis! The weather is in the 70’s, so be sure to bring something warm for after your water fun.

Fun for the Family: Observe Animals and Celebrate

Heading back to Houston in November? This is a great chance to attend the Houston Zoo’s 13^th animal, food, beer, and wine celebration. With musical guest Everclear, this event is great fun for the whole family!

Catch a Flick

All fall long in Downtown Houston, families come together to watch films under the stars.  Whether you’re visiting Discovery Green or Market Square Park, each venue offers the perfect opportunity to get together, bring food and blankets, and enjoy a unique evening in the breezy evening of Houston.

Interested in the Area?

Baytown is a great place for all, bringing community back to life. We here at Gulf State Homebuyers are proud of the community we work in and are happy to announce that we too participate in community development through our local programs.

If you are interested in learning more about the Baytown area, the events occurring, or what the community is like as a whole, we would be happy to assist! Just give us a call and we can start a conversation.

 

Are you interested in purchasing a home? Are you overwhelmed by the concept of saving for your next down payment? Are you feeling defeated by continuously hearing that it is a seller’s market? IF you answered YES to any of these questions, we may be able to provide you some direction and tips on how to save for your next home.

Most of our clients who are first time homebuyers acutely feel the pressure of their purchase. Buying a home is a life-altering decision that can place major financial strain on your family. That is why we have created a list of saving strategies that can help you prepare for your home purchase.

First and foremost, it’s crucial that you understand how much you should save up for your down payment. Until you have settled on a home, you will not have a precise answer – but a good estimate is enough to get you started. If you are a first-time homebuyer, you may qualify for an FHA loan (or Federal Housing Administration loan). This means that you will only need to put down 3.5% on your home purchase – so if you are purchasing a home at $500,000, you will need to put $17,500 down. However, if you do not qualify for an FHA loan and you require a conventional loan, you may need to save 20%. The purchase price will depend on what the lender allows you to qualify for. Try getting a pre-approval from a lender before moving forward. Understanding your pre-qualification will give you the best idea of your purchase price and of how much you will need to save.

Next, it is time to start saving! Here are a few tips to saving for your down payment:

1. Review your current bills and slash your expenses. Yes, this can be challenging, as it requires changes in lifestyle; however, after buying your first home, you will be grateful you made this sacrifice. Some examples of slashing bills includes: cutting cable, reducing entertainment costs, cooking food at home, and becoming a mindful spender.
2. Boost your income wherever possible. Whether this is taking on additional overtime or finding a part time job, the extra income can help expedite the process. Once again, when taking on additional work, remember the long-term goal: extra time and energy now can save you thousands of dollars in the future.
3. Consider borrowing from your retirement fund! That’s right – if you are a first time homebuyer, you may qualify to borrow from your retirements accounts, which may mean taking up to $10,0000 out of your individual account, avoiding the 10% early withdrawal fee, and borrowing cash from your 401(k) without tax or penalty.

Now that you have saved a little more money and are ready to start looking for your next home, it is time to look at how you can save on your purchase.

1. Identify and research your market. The area where you are looking to purchase can drastically affect the price point of the residential market. If you are looking in a highly sought-out area, prices may be higher. However, if you are looking in an up-and-coming area, prices may be lower. Understanding your desired neighborhood can provide you insight into the size of home you may qualify for.
2. Make your homebuyer checklist: this includes identifying your “Must Haves,” “Wants” and “Do Not Needs” of your future home. By always having this list prepared during your home search, you will more easily be able to compare various homes. At the end of the day, you should not find yourself paying extra for homes that have too many features on your “Do Not Need” list. Some examples include looking at the number of bedrooms, quality of the interior and exterior of the home, HOA fees, etc.
3. Identify whether you want a home that is “Ready for Renovation” or “Ready for Move-In.” If you are open to renovating a home, you may get more bang for your buck. However, a home requires work to renovate – time and energy you may not be willing to put in. Assess the pros and cons of each option and determine if you are ready to save through investing in DIY projects.

In the end, purchasing a home is a multi-step process. Working with professionals can help you save money while getting the most for your dollar. If you are interested in purchasing your first home or learning more about the real estate market, contact us and we would be happy to discuss it further. We have years of experiencing selling and purchasing homes in the Baytown area, and would be happy to help you with your next move. Contact us today and we can get started.