(1)  Check expiration date vs shelf life.  Shelf life usually refers to the time line between a medication’s manufacture date and its expiration date.  Shelf life can vary with storage – temperature, humidity, light, etc.  The expiration date is when the manufacturer guarantees safety and full potency, as some drugs are more stable than others.  Check with your pharmacist  after the expiration date and he can tell you whether to use it or toss.  MORE TO COME.

For over 65 year oldS, homes need to have:  (1)  zero-step entrances;  (2)  single-floor living;  (3)  wide halls and doorways that can accommodate walkers and wheelchairs & particularly in the bathrooms.  Most older adults are homeowners & will increase in years to come.  Also may need care to stay in their homes and nursing home populations have declined.  Other options are:  multi-generational houses with in-law apartments & the “village” concept of shared services.  Try driverless cars & home-centered technologies.  LOTS OF CHANGES AHEAD.

(1)  Buy a new doormat.  (2) Put a fresh coat of paint or stain on the front door.  (3)  Hand large attractive address numbers on the house.  (4)  Ensure that the doorbell and all the locks work.  (5)  Neatly coil the garden hose and put in an unused planter.  (6)  Cover up the bare planting areas of imperfect landscaping with fresh mulch.  (7)  Lay out a few hard games to suggest the fun in your yard, such as bocce balls, etc.  and (8)  Install a hammock.  NOTE MUCH WORK!

The Real Estate Center is to help CONSUMERS as well as Realtors.  Did this with educational programs such as the “How and When to Sell Your Land” & others.  Master of Real Estate is now available as part of the Mays Business School at Texas A&M.  The publication TIERRA GRANDE begun in 1977.  There is no doubt that with Dr. Gary Maler and his passionate staff, there are new trails in the years to come.  QUITE A FEATHER IN TEXAS’ HAT!!

The Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University has fundamentally changed how real estate is studied, analyzed and approached not just in Texas, but nationally.  Under the leadership of Dr. Gary Maler & the passionate staff  have kept us appraised of real estate in Texas for 45 years and will continue.  The Center is now the nation’s largest publicly funded organization devoted to real estate research.  The Center was created by Gov. Preston Smith as he signed Senate Bill 338.  The bill was prepared by TAR’s general council.  MORE TO COME

& TEXAS is one of them with 10%, California with 15%, Florida 22% & Arizona and New York with 4% each.  Florida & Arizona attract Latin Americans, while California and New York drew Asian buyers.  Texas attracts Latin American and Caribbean buyers, as well as Asians.  At least 1/2 pay cash.  40% of these buyers reside out of the U. S.  China still dominates the market.  WE STILL HAVE A GREAT ECONOMY TO INVEST IN.

5% unemployment rate for Tyler & some are chronically unemployed, etc.  $210,000 average price of SOLD homes & $28,790 is average income in Tyler.  Last 2 quarters 2016  in $120,000 to $160,000 price range 81.90% SOLD with an average price of $141,918, but listed at $144,181.  Sale/list price ratio is 98.43%.  6.47% expired & did not sell.  Gives you an idea of the ABSORPTION RATE after being on market an average of 41 days.

Until the election is over and the FED meeting in November, then interest rates should remain in the 3.625% range with no points for a 30 year fixed rate with a credit score over 720 for all loans – conventional, VA, FHA & USDA.  This is for loans over $100,000.  Rates change for lesser loans.   Even though the inventory is low, still a good time to BUY.  Interest rates then should go up at the very end of the year.

The fast recovery from the Great Recession catapulted the Texas economy at breakneck speed from 2012-2014, pushing demand for housing even higher.  Homes under $200,000 are only on the market 2.6 months with 6.5 months of inventory considered  balanced.  This of course pushes prices higher and with interest rates still low GREAT TIME TO BUY OR SELL.  After the election & Feds meeting in November interest rates will probably go up.

In homes $150,000 to $300,000 in popular Tyler schools with an ABSORPTION RATE of 63.64% for a 6 month period.  TEXAS has been a leading state for domestic migration since the mid-2000s + one of 5 states for international migration.  Texas’ relatively low cost of living, strong economic growth due to the most recent oil boom & lightly regulated commercial environment have attracted businesses and people to the state.  While the number of households in Texas grew 1.5% from 2011 to 2015, new housing units increases 1.2%,  drawing down existing-home inventories to record lows.  PART 3 NEXT TIME