Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

Have a great Holiday and get ready for 2010!

I hope everyone is getting geared up for Christmas — it will be here before you know it!

What are your special plans this year?  Mine?  Well, I don’t really have anything special planned but on my days off, I’m going to catch up on some work on the house that has been sadly postponed for way too long.  On Christmas Day, I will, of course, watch the Disney parade and we’ll have dinner at mom and dad’s as usual.  I really like peace and quiet when I get time away from work.  Don’t you?

Open House Sunday

http://www.propertypanorama.com/tour.asp?id=77033

Price reduced to $79,000, buyer closing cost assistance up to $2000, PLUS a home warranty! Open house from 2 to 4 on December 6th.

Come on by and make an offer!

Homebuyer Credit

Woo Hoo!!!!! The Senate and House voted in favor of extending the first-time homebuyer tax credit. The legislation extends, through April 30, an $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit and creates a NEW $6,500 credit for homebuyers who have been in their current residence for the last five years or more.

Your Suggestions Please

It’s been a while since I posted anything but I don’t want to just ramble on about any old thing.  I’d like to have some suggestions from you about what you would like to see in the next post on this blog.  Do you have any questions or maybe just something you’d like to see here?  Let me know.  I’ll be monitoring the comments.  I do suggest that you don’t post questions about personal information.  If you have something that you don’t want everyone and his brother to see, you should email me at velda@clearwire.net to ask your question and I’ll be glad to answer you personally. 

Have at it guys!

BTW, My daughter has 2 dogs that she needs to find homes for and she’d like for them to go to the same place.  Even it is a temporary home until she can move again to a place that allows pets, that would be great too.  I’ve posted pics at TwitPics.  I’m CylonRebel on Twitter and Twitpic.

http://twitpic.com/ncblm – Sugee 

http://twitpic.com/ncbgl – Kato

View virtual tours on your mobile!

View virtual tours on your mobile phone: Text 77033 to see the Westview house or 76999 to view the Castle Rd house – (440)725-TOUR [8687]

60 days to close and qualify for your First Time Homebuyer Credit!

Ok, this is my second attempt at loading a video on YouTube.
Anyway, if you need a house that you don’t mind doing a little work on, this is it. Call today 325-725-9854

www.AbileneAreaHomes.com

How to buy your first home! Contact us today to buy this home and find out!

OK, this is my first upload to YouTube. The pics are a little pixelated so I’ll have to work on that. Anyway, we’re plunging headfirst into more social media. Hope I can figure out more on this journey!

Using Google Maps

OK, this might be self-defeating but it is just so cool, I had to share it. 

Naturally, I would prefer that you use my website www.AbileneAreaHomes.com to find homes for sale in the Abilene area but if you call me when you find one that you want to see, I will forgive you!  :)   There is also a link here on this blog so you can search our MLS.

 

Now for Google Maps. 

1.  Go to this link http://maps.google.com/ 

2. Put the city and state in the search line…in our case Abilene TX.

3.  To the right of the Search Maps button, there is a link called “Show Search Options”  ….click on that link.

4. A pull down list will appear where you will click “Real Estate”

5.  Click the Search Maps button now.

6.  Give it a minute and you will see a list of properties to the left and a map on the right.

7.  Just above the list of homes, you will find other criteria by which you can narrow the search such as price, beds, baths, etc.

8.  If you hover your cursor above the little markers on the map, you will see Price, Beds, and Bath but if you click on the marker you get more information and if a picture is available, you get that too!

9. If you are searching in an area where “street view” is available (and it is in Abilene), you can take a “stroll” down the street and check out the neighborhood without leaving the comfort of your home! 

Pretty cool, huh?

GoogleMapsSample

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please do call or email if you would like more info on any property or if you would like to schedule an appointment to view properties.

Help our local Rescue The Animals win a $20,000 grant!

Help our local Rescue The Animals win a $20,000 grant!

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Go to this website:  The Animal Rescue Site

You can vote once a day from April 13 through July 26,2009.

Tell your friends!

Vote today and everyday!

Guest Blog: Water Heater Tank Maintenance

  Water Heater Tank Maintenance

“flush it to extend its life “

 In many communities the local water supply is rich or high in mineral content and home owners in the know practice this tip to prolong the life of their water heater!

Simply hook up a garden hose at the bottom drain valve of the tank. Run the hose to either a bathroom tub or if the tank is situated in the garage then down the driveway. Shut off the inflow valve and then open the drain valve. You can see months or even years of accumulated sediment being flushed out of the tank and that simple procedure may keep the coils from burning out due to arcing which may occur in a tank that has not received this simple procedure.

Many times flushing proves to be advantageous when construction is disrupting the local water lines or especially when a home has been vacant for 4 or 5 weeks (allowing sediment to settle in the tank). With so many HUD properties and investor transactions occurring please don’t overlook this timely and beneficial procedure. Houses that may not have had the “loving and caring attention” of an owner occupied home frequently fall into this category.

Remember, the ideal time to “flush” the hot water tank is during the first 30 days of a listing period and definitely have it done prior to the end of the options period if the property is under contract.

Remember those sayings “timing is of the essence” and “sooner is always better than later”.

Thomas K. Healey

Senior Account Executive

Old Republic Home Protection

800-282-7131 ext.1384