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Archive for January, 2008

College Station First Time Buyers

Wednesday, January 16th, 2008

College Station First Time Buyer Opportunities

College Station Budget Neighborhoods
College Station offers a variety of different neighborhoods to suit your needs.  Single family housing can be found in price ranges from the low 100K’s up to over a million dollars.  Your housing dollars stretch far here and you will enjoy a low cost of living.  Condominiums and townhomes can be an excellent option for both students and older adults.  We have neighborhoods that fits their varying needs.College Station Entry Level Plus Neighborhoods (single family)

College Hills smaller homes can be had inexpensively in this trendy neighborhood off Texas Avenue and across from Texas A&M University.  These homes were  built in the 50’s and 60’s and some are beautifully restored.  Clapboard homes, many with stylistic features such as front porches, can be had, but the pickings are slim.  Expect to wait a few weeks to months for the right house to be available.

Southwood Valley close in to the University you will find Southwood Valley.  This is a neighborhood that features mature trees and wide streets.  Southwood Valley is in the area of Deacon and Texas Avenue and stretches to Wellborn.  The homes range in size from around 1,200 square feet on up to over 3,000 square feet with an average size of somewhere around 1,500 square feet.  These homes, for the most part, were built in the late 70’s and 80’s with a few areas being added in the 90’s.  Close to shopping, Wings N’ More (and other restaurants) and shuttle route this neighborhood remains very popular with it’s great housing values.  Houses here tend to start at around 120K and go on up, with an average home being somewhere around 140K.

Raintree is a wonderful neighborhood located off Southwest Parkway and Highway 6.  This neighborhood features it’s own park and is heavily wooded.  Homes can be had from the 130’s and are large with generous lot sizes.  This neighborhood is right off Highway 6 and is easily accessible for those with long commutes.  The homes tend to have been built in the mid to later 80’s.

Westfield is a newer area located off Graham Road and close to Victoria in South College Station.  Close to schools and shopping this neighborhood is situated very near Rock Prairie Road, widely considered the center of College Station.  Homes here range from being built in the late 90’s to current and offer a wide variety of styles.  Housing prices tend to be at around the 120’s and up, and most of the building has been done by Stylecraft and Main Street Homes.

Shenandoah, nested deep in College Station is this subdivision off Barron Road and Highway 6.  This subdivision features a pool, a park, tennis courts and a small clubhouse.  Despite the amenities homeowner dues is a low $120 year.  This subdivision feaures Froehling homes built anywhere from the 80’s to currently.  Prices start in the low 130’s and this subdivision is zoned to the newest elementary school, Forest Ridge.

Alexandria, a subdivison virtually connected with Shenandoah, this newer area is right down the street off Barron Road.  It doesn’t have the benefit of the pool, and the homes tend to be larger, and priced accordingly.   Prices here begin in the high 130’s.

Springbrook-Cypress is a wonderful neighborhood off Highway 6 and Barron across from Shenandoah.  This is a rental restricted neighborhood and gives you a chance to have pride of ownership show everywhere, while keeping the prices down to a minimum as well.  Houses here start in the 140’s with some going up to the 200’s.

Camelot the area near South Knoll Elementary off Southwest Parkway features older homes with mature landscaping.  Housing here starts at the 130’s and is very affordable.

Westfield Village, off Barron Road and Victoria Stylecraft is building it’s signature Neo-Traditional style homes.  These homes feature Hardiplank siding and trim reminiscenct of the 50’s and 60’s in these newly built homes.  Excellent floorplans meld with front porches and granite countertops in many homes.  These homes start in the high 120’s.

For more information, or to set up a search, call or email me today!

Chris Tesch (979)574-1084

Sonya Johnson (979)575-4565

For more information go to Texas Home Answers or to my website.

College Station home on Acreage!

Wednesday, January 16th, 2008

Bryan and College Station are filled with both city lots and wide open spaces.  Moving here you will need to make a decision about how you want to live.  Is a small city lot for you?  Would an acre or more be right?  What about a property you can have horses on?  Easily found in certain price ranges here (typically 250K and up, but sometimes lower, pricing will go up to over 1 million).  Things to consider are land upkeep, and costs associated as well as garbage pickup, septic system costs (a contract with a reputable maintenance company is required by Brazos County).  Some of the pleasures are wide open spaces and the ability to see the stars brilliantly at night!

If you’re in the category of the acreage lover, are you lCollege Station real estateooking for the perfect spot to call home?  Consider this gorgeous 3 bedroom/2 bath on five rolling acres near the Brazos River!  Zoned to the newest College Station elementary school, Forest Ridge, this fantastic property is sure to please!  A three stall barn and tack room, fenced corral and beautiful stone firepit are all designed to make your outdoor living more enjoyable!  Remodeled interior features new granite tile countertops, a more open floorplan and beautiful new tile and carpet.  Call for your private showing!

Wood Brook Condos-Affordable college living

Tuesday, January 8th, 2008

College Station has anything from almost extreme luxury in it’s condo market, down to sheer simplicity.  Each has it’s own beauty.  Afraid of not being able to get an affordable College Station Condo?  Fear not!  We have them in almost all price categories. 

Some of the best condominiums for the budget minded are on Dartmouth and Harvey Road.  These awesome condos are on the shuttle route and convenient to a coffee shop (a must have college staple!) as well as laundrymats for those times that your own washer and dryer can’t quite cope with the backlog!

These College Station condos are 2 bedroom typically with one and one half baths.

This complex offers a pool and great landscaping in the manicured yards.  Prices begin in the upper 60’s for condos that have escaped updating, but a nicely updated condo will cost almost 100K.  One condo had been outfitted beautifully with a tile walk in shower and many amenities not typically found in this price range.  This two bedroom 1 and a half bath condo sold for 97K.

Wood Brook Condos offer affordable condo living and a convenient location.  Call now for available sales in this great complex (979)574-1084.

Waterwood Condos College Station

Tuesday, January 8th, 2008

Waterwood Condos, College StationWaterwood is an excellent condo complex in College Station, Texas.  Focusing on a safe, pleasing, student enviroment, Waterwood features a gated community with small swimming pool and common areas with ponds and water features.  Located directly across from Central Park, these condos have easy access to walking trails, fishing, bus route, Highway 6 and Texas Avenue.  Located about 2 miles from Texas A&M University, Waterwood is set off the beaten path and is close to College Station Police Department. 

Three bedroom, three baths (1490 square feet) and four bedroom, four baths (2 plans, one at 1590 square feet and the other at 1654 square feet) are available currently running $150,000 to $165,000.  Homeowners association dues are reasonable, at $120 per month.  As of today we have two three bedroom units and one four bedroom unit (1590 square feet with three showers and one tub) available.  One of the three bedrooms is available now and the other one is for a late May occupancy.  The four bedroom is available for immediate occupancy as well.

Call today for more information, or your private showing!  (979)574-1084

Chris Tesch, RE/MAX Bryan-College Station

Fox Run Condos, Luxury and Convenience

Thursday, January 3rd, 2008

Fox Run CondosChoosing a College Station condo can be tough.  Each complex has it’s benefits and drawbacks it seems.  One of the condo complexes that melds great benefits with excellent prices is Fox Run Condos.  This gated community holds sixteen buildings each with a mix of four-two bedroom and four-three bedroom condos. 

The two bedroom condos comprise the ground floor and are typically around 1200 square feet featuring large bedrooms of approximately 11′X17′ and 12′X14′ with walk in closets and a private bath, a kitchen complete with refrigerator, washer, dryer and microwave and a outside patio and storage closet.  Currently there are two on the market one selling for $127,900 and a poolsideunit for $128,900 and can be a great choice for students with only one roommate.   Assuming 20% down and a 6.25% interest rate (payment information courtesy of Jennifer Wolf at First Alliance) the payments would look like this:

$634.93  Principle and Interest

$180.00  Home Owner Association Fees

$196.72   Taxes

 $40.00   Insurance on interior of unit

Monthly Payment Total = $1,051.65 

Click here for a real estate show.

The three bedrooms consist of the second and third floors with the landing and stairs being at ground level.   The second floor accomodates two spacious bedrooms, the kitchen, living room and two bathrooms along with the utility closet and the outdoor deck and storage closet.  The third floor is the largest bedroom complete with a huge walk-in closet and it’s own private bath plus a entrance into a attic access that provides more storage.  At the time of this writing there are three listings active for three bedroom units in Fox Run.  Two are listed for $162,000 and one is listed for $159,000.  Making the above assumptions (20% down and 6.25% interest rate on a 30 year note on the $162,000 with no price reductions) your payments would look like this:

$800.43 Principle and Interest

$180.00 Home Owners Association Fees

$251.50  Real Estate Taxes

  $60.00  Insurance on interior of structure

Total = $1,291.93 per month.

For up to date information on currently listed condos and to find out more call me at (979)574-1084 or email me at Chris@ChrisTesch.com

Successful Strategies to a Great Relocation to Bryan or College Station

Thursday, January 3rd, 2008

You just got the news; you’re moving to Bryan or College Station either to work for Texas A&M or one of the wonderful other industries here, or to attend school.  Relocating can be tough and an emotional process.  How do you turn it into a good experience?

One of the best first steps is to interview real estate agents in College Station.  (I would love to apply for the job)  In the interview ensure that the agent is the type that will stick within your budget guidelines, give you guidance to the community and really take the time to listen to what you want and need.  Personalities can be important too.  Did you enjoy talking with the agent and did you feel better about your upcoming move after you talked?  During this time check your wants versus needs lists, and your price range, and see if the two match up.  A candid discussion with your agent will help. 

Start your search by exploring neighborhoods.  Different neighborhoods have varying personalities.  If you are a fifty plus year old empty nester your needs will be entirely different than the needs of a young family or a graduate student.  Your agent can tell you about communities that feature homes in your price range.  Look at proximity to work and school.  Once you’ve narrowed it down to three or four communities drive through them at night if you get the chance.  Check with the local police department to ask about crime statistics for the area.  Don’t hesitate to knock on doors or walk in the community park and talk to a few residents. 

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