Sam White's College Station Real Estate Blog

Dear readers,

I had a great post prepared this morning for Thanksgiving, but just as I was adding the tags, Internet Explorer stopped responding. With Windows Vista, the screen turns milky and the little hourglass won't go away. I was patient, just in case the problem might work itself out, but to no avail. later, I opened the task manager and with the push of the end task button, several times, all that work was gone.

Well, not really gone. You see, over the year that I've had this Vista laptop I've learned this can happen...way too often. So now, I write in notepad and transfer it to whatever destination is appropriate. Sure, its extra work, but at least when IE takes a dump I don't have to start over.

As a technology guy, I know transitions can be difficult. There is always a learning curve which can be frustrating, so I always establish a time frame for the upgrade to make itself useful. During that period I write of my frustration. If the upgrade doesn't prove itself out, then its gone.

I'll use three examples today.

1- Suddenlink Communications, our cable provider, has "upgraded" the software in our DVRs. We have two boxes, one for my son, which keeps his father sane, and another for the adults. When the adult DVR failed in late September, I took it to the local office and they exchanged it for a new box with new software.

As usual, the transition was difficult, but I said I'd give it to mid-November to get used to it. Well, it wasn't me...the software is definitely inferior to the previous version. I contacted Suddenlink to see if there was a chance of getting an old box, but to no avail. Everything was being "upgraded." True, if I hadn't used the old software, I would have known how bad it was. Unfortunately, there is no going back.

2- My wife's place of employment "upgraded" their off-site mail access last week. She is in a field where access to e-mail away from the office is essential, so when she couldn't get on line over the weekend, it was off to the office for her. As of today, two days into the following week, her IT guy won't respond. I know its only been a couple of days, but this is essential stuff. We'll see how this goes in the long run.

3- Finally there is Window's Vista. I bought my first Vista computer a year ago last October. Knowing Vista's reputation, I planned to give it a full year before giving it a yea or nay. That year is up, and I have bought two more computers...both with Windows XP. Luckily, major manufacturers have recognized the continued problems with Vista, and make new XP computers available for those of us who want a reliable operating system.

Technology is a TOOL for me, so I've learned to just say no when the newest thing comes along. To coin an old phrase, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Someone else can work the bugs out, and later, if the upgrade is worthy, I'll embrace it.

In the meantime, when a salesman comes to you with the latest upgrade, take a step back and ask if the upgrade is really for you, or just for the salesman.

Blue skies,

Sam White
www.samwhiterealty.com

PS - Join me for next month's rant regarding short time-outs and overly complicated passwords.

Dear readers,

With Thanksgiving this week we are about to round third base on the way to Christmas. Bryan turned on the Christmas lights downtown last Friday, and College Station is about to light Central Park for the 25th year.

Beginning on Nov. 26 through Jan.1, see over one million lights at the Stephen C. Beachy Central Park from 6pm-11pm daily. Admission is free.

On Dec. 5-6, and again Dec. 12-13, enjoy Santa, hayrides, cookies, hot cocoa and live entertainment.

Complete information can be found on the City of College Station's Website at www.cstx.gov/christmas.

Blue skies,

Sam White
www.SamWhiteProperties.com

Dear readers,

I try not to get sappy, but there are some words I try to revisit annually. Lincoln's Gettysburg Address consisted of 272 words, eloquently yet simply placed in only ten sentences. It was delivered on this day, Nov. 19, 1863.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate-we can not consecrate-we can not hallow-this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us-that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion-that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain-that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom-and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Blue skies,

Sam White
www.SamWhiteProperties.com

The International Space Station (ISS) 

Dear readers,

I admit I'm a fan of space and aviation. I've spent over 10,000 hours at the controls of one type of aircraft or another, and enjoyed skydiving with friends from the Johnson Space Center for almost a decade. Sondra (my wife) says its in our blood as my son, at 10, shares the same fascination.

So it shouldn't be surprising that I consider a shuttle launch an event, and normally have at least one computer at the office and at home tuned to NASA TV, where you can see and hear what's happening above our heads in real time. Its a pleasant diversion from our earth-based problems.

The current mission, STS-126, deserves the Home Depot theme playing in the background, as they lift an additional apartment into orbit, doubling the size of the station and allowing up to six occupants at a time. STS-126 is also carrying a nifty, urine to drinking water machine, partially developed here in the Brazos Valley, but that's a whole story in itself. (Click here and read the second brief on the page.)

Coincidentally, Nov. 20 is the tenth anniversary of the launch of the first bus-sized module, Zarya, from the Russian launch facility in Kazakhstan. Thursday, the ISS will complete 57,509 earth orbits. In a decade, the ISS has been visited by 167 individuals from 14 countries.

To take a virtual tour of the International Space Station and learn more about the current mission, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station

To find out how to see the station here in the Brazos Valley,visit:  http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings 

To the folks in orbit, I wish you a safe return to earth.

Blue skies,

Sam White
www.SamWhiteRealty.com

Dear readers,

Texas A&M University has announced scheduling changes to this December's commencement to allow President George W. Bush to address the graduating class and their guests.

President Bush will address ALL graduates at 1030am December 12 in Reed Arena. Separately, two small "degree-granting" exercises will be held at 2pm and 7pm, with an additional exercise December 13 at 9am.

According to the university, each student will be given two tickets to give to guests. Additionally, a small number of tickets will also be available to the university community.

According to university officials, this schedule will be used for all future commencements.

This is a very exciting time for our December graduates. Good luck!

Blue skies,

Sam White
www.SamWhiteProperties.com

Dear readers,

Our national media bombards us daily with news of significant reductions in home values, waves of foreclosures and frozen credit markets. Because the Brazos Valley isn't following the national pattern, it is important that homeowners keep abreast of LOCAL market information.

For over a year now, I have carefully watched local residential housing statistics for a sign of a market shift. Here are the October single-family sales numbers.

· Total Monthly Sales for October 2008 were $20,703,142, down only slightly from $20,723,427 in 2007.

· Total Units Sold were 126, which is exactly the same value as 2007.

· The average sales price of a single-family home in the Brazos Valley fell $161 compared with October 2007 to $164,311.

· Average days on the market fell nine days, from 111 days in 2007 to 102 days this year. This number is usually the first to dip during a market shift.

• New listings in October 2008 are up 29 units from 2007, at 324.

I met recently with Marty Cangelose of M. G. Cangelose & Associates, one of the area's busiest residential property appraisers. According to Marty, local home values continue to climb at around 3% per year, as they have done for many years. He says he often includes articles from The Eagle and reports from Texas A&M's Real Estate Center in appraisals documenting the area's strong market.

Mortgage rates today, November 13, 2008, stand at 6.125% for conventional loans requiring a credit score of at least 750. Government backed FHA and VA loans are available at 6.5%. These rates have been steady, with some dips into the upper 5% range.

Local mortgage lenders report an excellent October. Much of the change in the home mortgage industry occurred several months ago, well before we became of aware of the current commercial credit crisis.

Most new loans are through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which still allows credit scores as low as 620 and down payments as low as 3.5%. A borrower must have acceptable credit, employment to service the note, a down payment and some reserve.

For parents investing in housing for students, it is very important that your son or daughter have a credit score prior to the application. Do this by adding them as an authorized user to a parent's credit card, or getting the student his or her own card.

Speaking of lenders, I again want to emphasize how important it is to use local lenders. I have a list of several, topped by Brenda Williams at City Bank Mortgagee, that have years of experience, and more importantly, will be there standing by your side through closing. Five out of five of my clients who used out-of-town lenders last summer had difficulty with their mortgage companies on closing day!

Despite our steady market, I would be remiss if I didn't plan for contingencies. Keller Williams International began training our agents for the shift two years ago, and has documented the success of agents in markets that have turned ugly. I know what to watch for, and what works and does not when the market turns.

Details regarding our October housing sales numbers, including graphs, are available on my market reports Website, http://samwhiteproperties.com/mreports.html .

As always, if you have any questions I'm just a phone call, e-mail or text message away.

Best regards,

Sam White
979.574.0626
www.SamWhiteRealty.com

Dear readers,

Yes, its November, and that means Carnival time in the Brazos Valley.

This year's carnival is from Century 21 Shows, and is set up in a slightly different location near Post Oak Mall in College Station.

Instead of looking in the mall parking lot, look in the lot directly behind Cavendars on Holleman Drive, on the Macy's/Beall's side of the mall.

Hours are Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday from 6pm-10pm, Friday and Saturday from 3pm-11pm, and Sunday from 3pm-10pm. They are scheduled to be in town until November 23.

Have fun!

Blue skies,


Sam White
www.SamWhiteProperties.com