(4)  Mount curtains as high as possible to give the room more height & let them break 1.5 inches on the floor.  (5)  A kitchen island should be about 38 inches high or just taller than the countertops for comfortable prep.   (6)   A curtain should be 2.5 or 3 times the width of the window.  Buy  a rod that 20 inches wider than your window so it extends 10 inches on either side.  Your window will seem wider than it is.  MORE TO COME!

(1)  A 36 inch wide rectangular table is perfect for conversation.  A round table with a diameter of 48 inches seats 6;  a 60 inch round table handles 8-10 chairs.  (2)  How big should an overhead light fixture be?  Just add the length & width of the room in feet & whatever number you come up with is, in inches, your guide for the fixture’s diameter.  A 15 by 20 ft room will need a 35 inch wide chandelier.  (3)  One gallon of paint will cover about 400 square feet of wall.  MORE COMING!

(3)  THE MOVE.  Professional movers can charge a few thousand dollars, but are bonded.  Need to get several quotes.  There are several local TYLER movers you can check if not moving far away.  Referral from a friend can be helpful.  (4)  IMMEDIATE COSTS such as changing locks, turning on utilities,  maintenance costs ( a home warranty usually paid by the seller is a good idea).  You need to set up a 6 month emergency fund for expenses & NOT turn to credit cards.  JUST PLAN AHEAD AND KNOW YOU WILL NEED EXTRA MONEY TO MOVE!!

1/2 of homebuyers did not figure an extra $2,000 to $5,000 to buy their home.  (1)  THE INSPECTION:  to pay the inspector & maybe more inspectors, such as structural issues, & asbestos.  It’s money well spent, but after inspections the buyer can decide to not buy the house.  (2)  BRINGING CASH TO THE CLOSING TABLE:  buyers should know that ahead of time, but still can be a shock & needs to be planned for.  Could be thousands of dollars.  MORE TO COME!

Texas land prices reached a new high in the 1st quarter of 2017, however, deflated prices have essentially remained rather flat since 2015.   These 1st quarter results indicate that current market dynamics reflect a more measured environment compared to the accelerated growth in 2013-2014.  At $2,536 per acre statewide the increase is 2.6% more than the prior year.  Agricultural commodities continue to outstrip demand, signalling weak operating conditions for farms and ranches.  STILL A GOOD TIME TO BUY LAND!!

Primarily for investors who have CASH ready to buy.  Investors use Zillow’s built in comparative market analysis tools when making their bids.  All cash offers represent less than 1% of the total market share.  The service that REALTORS provide is invaluable & this “buy-it-now” strategy is dangerous to consumers who are putting  most of their life savings in a home.  Services that Realtors provide will not go out of style, even as technology progresses.  SEEMS THERE IS ROOM FOR ALL OF US!!