The Chris Wylie Team Houston Real Estate Blog

With the end of the year approaching quickly, now is a great time to evaluate your tax situation and determine if there are any things you can or need to do before the new year rings in.

Here are some common Real Estate Tax situations to evaluate:

• Mortgage interest
• Property taxes
• Points
• Casualty losses not compensated for by insurance or other means
• Income or loss from rental activities
• PMI Premiums (for mortgages issued after 2006)
• First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit
• Energy credits
• Some home improvements
• If you sold a home in 2011 you may qualify to exclude gains from your income. Generally if your profits don’t exceed $250,00 , $500,000 for married couples, and you meet the time requirement, you could qualify.

In this article Bankrate.com discusses how the capital gains tax works and who qualifies for the exemption.

Different exemptions apply to different people so check with your tax professional to see how they apply to your specific situation.

For information about buying or selling a Houston home, call The CHRIS WYLIE TEAM today at 281.583.9393

Looking for fun things to do around Houston this weekend? Some events are free, some are not. Check website or call ahead for details!

1. New Year’s Eve Live at the George Brown Convention Center
2. Disney’s Phineas and Ferb:The Best Live Tour Ever!
3. Celebrate the New Year with the Houston Symphony at the Centrum
4. Houston New Year’s Eve at the Hyatt
5. Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas at Reliant Park

Happy New Year and see you next week!

From traditional lenders to seller financing, there are many options for paying for a home. The video below from HAR explains some of the most common options.

Looking for fun things to do around Houston this weekend?  Here is our first edition/holiday special.
Some events are free, some are not. Check website or call ahead for details!

1. Transiberian Orchestra at the Toyota Center
2. S’Mores at the Four Seasons
3. The Nutcracker – Houston Ballet
4. Festival of Lights at Moody Gardens
5. Seasons of Sharing at the Children’s Museum of Houston (call for holiday hours)

Have a great weekend and see you next week!

The Multiple Listing Service is a service that provides a storehouse of properties listed for sale or sold in that Association’s region or area.  Usually provided by the local Realtor’s association, the MLS is used by local brokers to “list”  homes for sale.  This database of properties is accessible to agents and often to the public for the purpose of preparing a home search or CMA.  Most services require membership of the posting broker or agent and often provide tools for marketing and sharing these listings.

The Houston Association of Realtors provides a multiple listing service to Realtors in Houston and the surrounding areas.  Here is a video provided by HAR to help better understand what they have to offer.

Cookies, and memories of making and eating them, are a fundamental part of the holidays. In this post we’ll share our team’s favorite cookies. Click the links below for classic recipes and some new twists on old recipes. We also want to hear from you! Use the comment box below to tell us about your favorite cookies and your family memories that involve them!

Our son and daughter, Kristen and David, always left cookies and milk for Santa on Christmas eve. Each time Santa would thank them for the cookies, etc. via a note. As they got older, they analyzed the handwriting and discovered Santa and Dad had same writing tendencies. My favorite cookie is the Forget-Me-Not – David Wylie

My favorite holiday cookie is the Butter Cookie – Chris Wylie

Every year I make homemade Gingerbread Cookies and after rolling and cutting about 10 of them I get tired and end up making the rest just circles! The kids don’t mind because they still taste good – Kristen Burton

My mother in law bakes like there will never be another cookie in the world…ever. My favorite that she makes is Walnut Rolls. A triangle shaped dough with a walnut filling and it’s rolled up like a crescent roll – Gayle Turcato

I remember eating Peanut Butter Cookies all the time as a child. They are still my favorite – Clay Burton

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are my favorite – Mike Paiz

If you are looking for that special home to make memories in, call The CHRIS WYLIE TEAM today and let us help you find the home of your dreams!

The Chris Wylie Team
281.583.9393
Email

Are you looking to wow your friends and family with a unique and beautiful centerpiece this Thanksgiving? Here are some great ideas from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine.

View Centerpieces

For more from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine subscribe or call us today at 281-583-9393.

In a recent post we highlighted a few reason why selling with a Realtor is a great idea. Here are a few more reasons from the Houston Association of Realtors.

If you’re interested in selling your Houston home or would like a free home value report, call The CHRIS WYLIE TEAM today at 281-583-9393

We all know that in a buyer’s market it’s important to make your home stand out above the competition. 

There are many changes you can make inside your home. The changes that usually add the most value include things like:

• Updating an outdated kitchen
• Replacing old carpet
• Painting walls a neutral color
• Replacing a leaky roof
• Upgrade to Energy Efficient windows and appliances
• Refinish the front door

While these changes can increase the value of your home from the inside, FoxNews shares some ways to add luxury to your home on the outside in this article about Ultra Luxury Backyards.

For more information about adding value to your home call Chris Wylie at 281.583.9393 today or visit our website.

Going on vacation for the holidays can be a fun and exciting time. Coming home to property damage, vandalism or theft can ruin that for you. Below we list some easy tips for protecting your Houston home while you’re away!

Tip #1 If you have a security system, don’t forget to arm it! Nothing is worse then having something bad happen when it could have been prevented. Also, let your security company know you are going to be out of town.

Tip #2 Use timers to have your lights come on when it gets dark, inside and out. It may not prevent a break-in but it will make your Houston home a less desirable target.

Tip #3 Stop newspaper delivery and have the post office hold your mail until you return. Piles of newspapers and an overflowing mailbox are sure signs that no one is home.

Tip #4 To avoid water damage from frozen pipes bursting, leave at least one faucet dripping. Freezing temps can cause pipes to freeze and then burst so this simple step can save you from coming home to a flood. We will discuss winterizing your Houston home in a post next week.

Tip #5 Store valuables in a safe in your home or rent a safety deposit box. If your Houston home is broken into, this will minimize the financial loss you incur.

Tip #6 Turn off power strips or unplug electronic devices. Not only will this save electricity but it could also avoid a power surge that could damage your devices or potentially start a fire. Electronic devices would include DVD players, receivers, televisions, computers, DVRs and stereos.

Tip #7 Don’t post vacation photos or check-ins while you’re out of town and don’t announce your trip ahead of time. This means Facebook, Twitter, your personal blog or anywhere else that might be considered public. Criminals watch these places and are just waiting for the right opportunity.

Tip #8 Close the blinds. You don’t want it to look like no one is home but you also want to minimize the ability to see inside your home.

Tip #9 If you have a trusted neighbor, let them know you’re leaving town and ask them to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity around your home. Make sure they know how to get in touch with you in case of an emergency.

Tip #10 Trim bushes and shrubs, especially those around windows and other entrances to your home. Burglars can use overgrown landscaping to hide while they pry open a window.