< PreviousJulie Greenwell 281-622-1244 Ingrid Gonzalez, Broker/Owner 409-256-3838 709 University Blvd . Galveston, TX. 77550 insidegalveston@comcast.net Buy or sell your next home with the help of Inside Galveston Real Estate in Galveston, Texas. Since 2005, our company has been handling every facet of real estate for both residential and commercial clients. We know the area and have the expertise to help you gain the most in today’s market. At Inside Galveston Real Estate, we work diligently to meet your investment goals. We invite you to place your trust in our company and allow our representation to fulfill your future real estate needs. You’ll appreciate our customer service and attention to detail in negotiating all steps leading to the close of your transaction. Call us today, (409) 256-3838 -- we welcome the opportunity to serve all your real estate needs! 50 | Parade of Homes | 20212021 | Parade of Homes | 51 Top 5 hottest homebuilding trends Story and photo courtesy of Metro Creative Connection IN STYLE T hese days, home trends are about more than good design and aesthetics — they’re about creating spaces that reflect our values and are more com- fortable and enjoyable to live in. From net-zero and net-positive construction to tiny minimalist homes, trends are all about your family’s lifestyle. Whether you’re shopping for a new home, renovating your own or creating a new build from scratch, here are some of the biggest trends you need to know for inspiration. SUSTAINABLE DESIGN This one has been popular for a long time, but green design has evolved to be about much more than energy-efficient appliances and LED light bulbs. Now, it’s all about making sure everything in your home reduces your carbon footprint and minimizes any impact on the environment. To try the trend yourself, think big and get creative — install solar panels on your roof, choose building materials that don’t require deforestation and upcycle old furniture for decorative ele- ments instead of buying new. DISASTER RESILIENCY Climate change affects us in so many negative ways, and one of the top concerns is the increase in natural disasters. From wildfires that last for months to major floods that affect entire cities, we now need to prepare for the worst when building our homes. Switching to disaster-resilient materials is an important first step. Many builders now prefer to use stronger, more energy-ef- ficient materials like insulated concrete forms (ICFs) instead of more traditional materials like wood. For example, Nudura ICFs can withstand winds of up to 250 miles per hour (equivalent to an F4 tornado) and offer a fire pro- tection rating of up to four hours. OUTDOOR LIVING Many of us are now choosing to forgo getting a cottage or sum- mer home and recreate the expe- rience in our own backyards. This trend helps you make the most of your existing space and take full advantage of your yard or patio during the summer months. You can design a full living space outside, complete with an outdoor television and comfy couches, as well as a kitchen and refrigerator for entertain- ing. Consider adding a fireplace or firepit to keep warm during cold winter nights and enjoy the outdoors through spring and fall. HOME AUTOMATION This is another longstanding trend that shows no signs of slowing down. It also has evolved to encompass more of the home to make life even more com- fortable and convenient. From an oven that can be turned on remotely to preheat, to skylights that can open and close automati- cally to create the perfect ambient temperature, there are more ways than ever to integrate smart home technology into your living space. You can start small with voice assistant and smart light bulbs and work your way up to a total smart home system that includes home security, temperature controls and all your electronic devices. CUSTOMIZATION You don’t have to settle for what mass manufacturers decide to build, or what works for everyone else. Creating a home that’s as unique as you are is the latest trend, with custom-built storage and personalized architectural features to make your space stand out. You can even go as far as building a custom home that’s suited to your family. Older home demolitions and purchasing land-only properties is becoming more common, allowing you to work with an architect to create exactly what you want with a new build. Make sure you stay up to date on all the latest and greatest home trends. ◊Tips for first-time real estate investors Story and photo courtesy of Metro Creative Connection IN THE KNOW R eal estate can be a good invest- ment that helps build wealth and secure a financial future. Average 20-year returns in commercial real estate hover around 9.5 percent, while residential and diversified real estate average returns of 10.6 per- cent, according to Investopedia. Such figures may seem too good to ignore for many prospective real estate investors. But investing in real estate can be risky, and it’s important that first- time investors consider a host of factors before deciding to delve into the real estate market. CURRENT FINANCES Real estate can potentially yield big returns, but these may only materialize after investors spend ample amounts of money refurbishing or even maintaining their investment properties. Prospective investors without the capital on hand to finance repairs or routine maintenance may find it difficult to make their proper- ties appealing to potential tenants, which can make it harder to meet mortgage 52 | Parade of Homes | 2021 Average 20-year returns in commercial real estate hover around 9.5 percent, while residential and diversified real estate average returns of 10.6 percent. INVESTOPEDIA payments. Prospective investors who al- ready have sizable debts, be it consumer debt or existing mortgage payments, may want to pay down those debts before investing in real estate. DOWN PAYMENTS Mortgage insurance does not cover investment property, and loans typically require a minimum down payment of 20 percent of the value of the property, according to Wells Fargo. So prospec- tive investors cannot count on mortgage insurance to finance their investments in real estate. Investors should not just make sure they can meet that 20 percent requirement, but also ensure they have enough capital left after making their down payments to address any repairs that need to be made. If not, they might have trouble attracting renters willing to pay enough in rent. INTEREST RATES Prospective real estate investors may be surprised to learn that investment property loans are often subject to higher interest rates than those for home buyers borrowing to purchase a primary residence, according to Quicken Loans. Investors should not count on getting the same or better interest rates for their investment properties that they did when buying the homes they currently live in. FINANCIAL RESERVES Some lenders may require that pro- spective investors have sizable financial reserves before they will lend them money to invest in real estate. Some may require that borrowers have several months’ worth of reserves to finance both their personal lives and their invest- ments. If a 20 percent down payment would make that impossible, then pro- spective investors may want to wait a lit- tle longer to invest and save more money until their financial reserves would prove more acceptable to lenders. Investing in real estate can yield big returns. But first-time investors should know that such investments are vastly different than investing in a home for oneself. ◊409-256-6257 GUZMAN’S CUSTOM CONTAINERS & TOTAL REMODELING Homes, Offices, Deer Camps & Much Much More! www.GuzmansCustomContainer.com YOU DREAM IT, WE BUILD IT!! Jimmy Rasmussen President & CEO Allan Rasmussen Sr. Executive Vice President Cesar Hernandez Sr. Vice President Galveston Scott Kusnerik Exec. Vice President Galveston Ray Rusk Sr. Vice President Alvin Bill Provenzano Sr. Vice President League City Sean Murphy Sr. Vice President Pearland Steve Owens Sr. Vice President Friendswood Bay Area Brandon Rogers Vice President Galveston Traci Shugart Garcia Vice President Galveston Chad Dudley Vice President Alvin Donna Rizzo Vice President Pearland Scott Asimakis Vice President Friendswood Downtown Jim Goebel Vice President League City It’s HomeTown People Who Make the Difference The HomeTown Bank difference is the people who work every day to help you succeed. Our loan officers, for example, can help with a home mortgage or home equity loan for your family, a construction loan to help your business grow, or arrange for inventory financing. We contribute to our community every day, because we live here and have our neighbors at heart. Whenever financing is the question, the HomeTown Team has the answer. Let’s get acquainted! Galveston Main Bank, 1801 45th St. • Galveston Seawall Branch, 45th & Seawall Blvd. Friendswood Bay Area, 3211 East FM 528 • Friendswood Downtown, 601 S. Friendswood Dr. League City, 1406 W. Main St. (FM 518) • Alvin, 1050 N. Bypass 35 Pearland, 2651 Pearland Parkway • Internet: www.HomeTown.Bank 2021 | Parade of Homes | 53409-938-8000 926BonitaSt,BayouVista,TX77563 bayouvistahomes.com Serving the Galveston County Area Rosa Rios takes pride in delivering a variety of house cleaning services including Standard Cleaning, Deep Cleaning and Move In/Move Out, as well as a variety of additional services to meet your every need. If you are looking for regular house cleaning services or simply a one-time special occasion service, we are the provider you need. For regular service, you can schedule us Weekly, Bi-Weekly, or Monthly. “Serving, Dedication, Making Smiles! That’s what Matters to Me” - Rosa Rios Call us today for FREE ESTIMATE 713-548-4644 54 | Parade of Homes | 2021Bay Area Kitchens 281.338.2737 www.BayAreaKitchens.com | Appointments Required 17306 Highway 3 @ Medical Center Blvd., Webster Trusted, Quality Craftsmanship ~ Since 1983 Kitchen Design, High-End Custom Cabinetry & Gourmet Appliances For Kitchen Remodels & New Homes We Love Working With Designers & Contractors! We Have A Kitchen Showroom In Webster | Professional Kitchen Design Services Wood-Mode Custom Cabinetry | Sub-Zero, Wolf & Cove Gourmet Appliances 2021 | Parade of Homes | 55 5 outdoor projects that add value Story courtesy of Metro Creative Connection OUTDOOR OASIS C urb appeal goes a long way toward attracting poten- tial buyers. First impressions of a property have a strong influence on buyers. Landscaping and external fea- tures can do much to influence such impressions. 1. LAWN CARE PROGRAM Investing in a lawn care pro- gram that consists of fertilizer and weed control application and can be transferred over to a subse- quent home owner is an attractive feature. Such a care program can recover $1,000 in value of the $330 average cost, or a 303 percent ROI, according to the National Association of Realtors. 2. LOW- MAINTENANCE LIFESTYLE When choosing materials for projects, those that offer low-maintenance benefits can be preferential. These include low-maintenance patio materials, composite decking, vinyl fencing and inorganic mulched beds. 3. FIRE PIT A fire pit can be used for much of the year. In the spring and summer, the firepit is a great place to congregate to roast marshmallows or sip wine and gaze into the fire. In the fall, the fire pit can make for a cozy retreat. A fire pit that has a gas burner is low-maintenance, and the National Association of Landscape Professionals says that most can recoup about $4,000 of their $6,000 average price tag. 4. SOFTSCAPING Hardscaping refers to struc- tures like outdoor kitchens or decks. Softscaping involves the living elements of the landscape. Hiring a landscape designer to install trees, shrubs, natural edging and rock elements can do wonders toward improving the look and value of a home. 5. POOL OR WATER FEATURE In certain markets, par- ticularly hot climates, a pool or another water feature is a must-have. However, in other areas, a pool or water feature can actually lower the value of a home. Speaking with a real estate professional can give homeowners an idea of how a pool will fare in a given neigh- borhood. ◊Because We Know Your New Home Is More Than Just a Roof Over Your Head Personalized Mortgage Solutions • Purchase or Refinance • Conventional/FHA/VA/USDA Financing • Bank Statement Loan • Jumbo Loan Options • New Construction • Cash Out Refinance • Home Renovation Call today for your free consultation! We have the options and expertise to put home ownership safely within your reach. NMLS #70160 409.771.1316 • 713.355.9999 Fax SUSANA FINKEL Mortgage Loan Originator, MLO 628242 SECURE MORTGAGE COMPANY 2500 West Loop South, Suite 250 Houston, Texas 77027 Myra Sanders REALTOR ® 281.714.0684 Myra.Sanders@garygreene.com ©2021 Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. Better Homes and Gardens® is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation licensed to Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Franchise is Independently Owned and Operated. If your property is currently listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers. Contact me if you are interested in selling, buying or leasing. I am ready to serve you! Pamela Gabriel | SRS REAL ESTATE AGENT, GALVESTON ISLAND Cell: 409-789-4990 Email: pamela@sandnsea.com Fax: 409-797-5552 13727 Windlass Circle, Galveston, Texas 77554 Listed for $2,499,999 Lafittes Cove 5/3.5 waterfront on 2 LOTS. Entrance to home has covered porch w/ views of turtle & birding pond. Open floor plan from living, kitchen & dining w/wall to wall windows & waterfront views. Kitchen w/island & wrap around seating & 6 burner gas cook-top. Eucalyptus floors. Primary bedroom suite w/deck, Jacuzzi, decorative bath. Entertaining outdoor space w/2200 sqft of Trex decking, with balconies on both levels front & back, boathouse, gazebo, seating for large crowds. Can be sold without extra lot. E legant D ecorating S ervices By Karen Bunch Tree Decor Knoll Post Staircase Interior Lighting Mantle Front Door And more ... “Spreading Holiday Cheer …one home at a time, on Galveston Island!” Call to set your free holiday consultation today! Cell: 713 • 823 • 8934 Or Email: KLCBunch@sbcglobal.net Let me bring on the Sparkle! 56 | Parade of Homes | 20212021 | Parade of Homes | 57 Planned communities designed with lifestyle in mind Story and photo courtesy of Metro Creative Connection A SENSE OF COMMUNITY P eople move for many rea- sons, including a desire to be closer to family or after accepting a job offer. Last year, many were spurred by a “you only live once” mentality as life and the world as we knew it suddenly changed. As people consider where to move, mas- ter planned commu- nities are garnering more and more atten- tion. The National As- sociation of Realtors reported that, starting in March 2020, one in three adults sub- stituted some or all of their typical work for telework, com- pared to one in 20 who worked remotely before the pandemic. The uptick of remote work made many peo- ple consider moving. While master planned communities once were considered realms for retirees, such areas also can be great for families, and not all MPCs are age-restricted. Many buyers are attracted to these homes because of the sense of com- munity fostered by living in close proxim- ity to neighbors and sharing a number of exclusive amenities. According to Ide- al Living magazine, many people flock to MPCs for social outreach. MPCs of- ten have events for residents, including farmers markets, food truck nights, concerts and other community gatherings within the communities. Fur- thermore, MPCs often are built around golf courses, water parks, nature paths and oth- er features that physi- cally connect the res- idents to one another in unique ways. According to the financial information resource The Motley Fool, MPCs have more in common with small cities than traditional subdivisions. These communities have extensive educational, recreational and com- mercial features. They often have their own school systems, shop- ping areas, fitness centers and business districts. Some are gated; most require an entry pass to use facilities. MPCs can be convenient for anyone who doesn’t want to travel far away from home for most of their daily needs. Furthermore, thanks to exceptional concep- tualizing and design, these communities continue to evolve to offer residents in demand services. For example, many builders in MPCs are now including homes that feature designat- ed spaces for home learning and remote working in their floor plans. Building a sense of community takes on new meaning when people relocate to master planned com- munities. These devel- opments push lifestyle and active living to the forefront. ◊Home Sweet Home Nothing beats owning a home & having room for your family! Combined experience of 50 years! Variety of loan products! Call today to get started! Robert Fuchs | Loan Officer rfuchs@rsmc.net |281-687-1021 Apply: rfuchs.republicstatemortgage.com/ 2200 E. NASA Pkwy. Ste. 130 Houston, TX 77058 NMLS #1948394 Building Relationships One Home at a Time Equal Housing Lender. This is not a commitment to extend credit or lend. Information and/or data are subject to change without notice. Republic State- Mortgage Company, 815 Hawthorne St. Houston, TX 77006; NMLS ID#62411. Texas SML Mortgage Banker Registration #62411. 1005 BAYOU RD., LA MARQUE 409-938-8494 Custom Blinds, Shades, Shutters & Drapery HOUSE OF INTERIORS INTERIOR DESIGN Simple ways to cut mortgage costs Story courtesy of Metro Creative Connection SAVE SMARTER 58 | Parade of Homes | 2021 M onthly mortgage payments are the biggest single expense for many homeowners. So it’s understand- able why plenty of homeowners would love to trim those costs. A host of factors determine how much homeowners pay for their mortgages each month. The cost of the home, the amount of the initial down payment and property taxes, which are often folded into monthly payments, will factor heavily into the cost of home ownership. While home- owners may feel as though there’s little wiggle room to cut the costs of their mortgages, there are several ways to do just that and potentially trim years from the life of a home loan. • Make bi-weekly payments. Making bi-weekly instead of once-a-month payments can save homeowners substantial amounts of money. A year’s worth of once-a-month pay- ments equates to 12 payments per year. But homeowners who pay on a bi-weekly basis will make 26 half payments, or 13 full payments, per year. That extra annual payment can be applied directly to the princi- pal, dramatically reducing how much homeowners pay in inter- est over the life of their loans. • Stop paying PMI. Homeown- ers whose initial down pay- ments are less than 20 percent of the sale price will have to pay private mortgage insurance, or PMI. But once the balances on such mortgages falls below 80 percent, homeowners can cancel such insurance. Home- owners also may be able to stop paying PMI by having their homes reappraised. • Refinance the loan. Refi- nancing a loan also can save homeowners substantial amounts of money each month. Homeowners are typically eligible for lower interest rates when refinancing their loans, meaning they will pay less in interest each month. Howev- er, refinancing is not free, so homeowners should first check the going home interest rates and examine their credit scores to see if the interest rate they’re likely to get upon refinancing will save them money. • Request a tax reassessment. Real estate values increase and decrease, and homeowners who feel their homes have decreased in value can request that their homes be reassessed. Homeowners whose homes are assessed at a value lower than the current value can expect to pay less each month in taxes. ◊The average timelines for popular renovation projects Story and photos courtesy of Metro Creative Connection TIMING IS EVERYTHING 2021 | Parade of Homes | 59 H ome renovation projects are significant undertakings. Work- ing with skilled and experi- enced contractors can ensure projects go smoothly and are completed promptly. Timing is a big consideration for homeowners as they begin renovating their homes, and the home improvement experts at HomeAdvisor note that the following are some general timelines for popular renovation projects. • Home addition: Short of a full-scale demolition and rebuild, home additions are the most time-consuming projects homeowners can undertake. HomeAdvisor notes that its survey of customers who recently completed home addition projects reported that the average time from start to finish was between three and four months. Certain variables, including the scale of the project and the local permits process, can extend the time it takes to complete a home addition. • Kitchen remodel: Scale is a big fac- tor to consider when estimating the time it takes to complete various home im- provement projects, and kitchen remod- els are no exception. Some HomeAdvisor users reported projects taking as long as four months, though the average time reported was roughly six weeks. Projects that require major overhauls like rear- ranging the plumbing and moving walls likely will take longer than more cosmet- ic projects that are limited to replacing cabinets and countertops. • Bathroom remodel: More than 1,000 homeowners surveyed by Home Advisor reported that bathroom remod- els took about 4.5 weeks from start to finish. Small-scale remodels that focus on painting the walls a fresh color and replacing existing tiles can be completed in less than two weeks. But like with kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels that involve replacing plumbing fixtures and removing walls figure to take much longer than that. • Siding installation: HomeAdvisor users report that new siding projects take roughly two weeks from start to finish. That estimate is the same regard- less of which materials homeowners are replacing and installing. • Replacement windows: Homeown- ers who want to replace all the windows in their home can expect such a project to take roughly three weeks. HomeAd- visor notes that such a timeline need not concern homeowners worried that they will be forced to brave the elements during the length of the project. Much of a contractors’ time during a window replacement project will be spent on upfront measuring and then ensuring a tight fit once the windows have been installed. ◊Next >