Lubbock AJ Real Estate Section 2011-12-24

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REAL ESTATE Produced By Advertising Editorial Staff lubbockonline.com homes.lubbockonline.com LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL Inside Real Estate: WTHBA Featured Floorplan - Page 5 Homes.lubbockonline.com - Page 6 On The Web: Check us out on Facebook & Twitter View Full MLS Listings & Open House List SATURDAY Hot Decor Trends - Page 7 Local Real Estate News - Page 8 DECEMBER 24, 2011 Where did you grow up? I went through elemen- tary school in Pampa, TX. I went through middle school and high school in Amarillo, graduating from Amarillo High School. Therefore, I call Amarillo home. Why do you live in the Lubbock area? What do you like most about it? I came to Lubbock to attend Texas Tech. When I graduated, I liked Lubbock so much I decided to stay. I like that Lubbock has a lot of the “big city” amenities without all the “big city” hassle, mak- ing it a great place to raise a family. I also like the unifying dimension that Texas Tech brings to the community along with the academic, arts and athletic opportunities it provides to the citizens of Lubbock. How long have you worked in real estate? I’ve worked in real estate 6½ years. What did you do before that? My original background is in education. I was a band director the first 6 years after graduating from Texas Tech. I’ve been in sales and market- ing for the 14 years since I left the education field. What designations do you have? I hold the following desig- nations: ABR® – Accredited Buyer Representative, ASR® – Accredited Seller Repre- sentative, CNS™ – Certified Negotiation Specialist, CRS® – Certified Residential Spe- cialist, GRI – Graduate RE- ALTOR® Institute, A-REO® - Accredited REO Agent, and Certified Relocation Agent. I’m passionate about educa- tion and being highly skilled so that my clients can feel comfortable they are working with a full-time professional who will take great care of their real estate needs. What is your specialty? I specialize in residential real estate, including single family homes, new construc- tion, foreclosure properties, investment properties and multi-family residences. What are the most chal- lenging and the most gratifying aspects of what you do? The most challenging part is managing all the different people and entities involved in the real estate transac- tion. There are a lot of pieces of the puzzle that have to come together for a successful transaction. The most gratify- ing part is helping people through some of the most stressful life transitions as they sell and buy homes. What tips do you have for someone looking to buy or sell a home? The #1 tip I can give some- one is to make sure they are professionally represented by a highly-skilled agent. It’s frustrating as a real estate expert to watch people get into legal trouble, over-pay for a home, sell a home for less than it’s worth or get into a dispute with a builder because they handled the transaction on their own. What do you see in the fu- ture for real estate sales? I believe our current market is the new “normal.” Those waiting for the real estate market to “come back” will be severely disappointed. Barring a major economic melt-down, I believe the Lub- bock market will continue to see prices hold fairly steady for the foreseeable future. Buyer preferences will contin- ue to be for updated, move-in ready homes putting pricing pressure on the home sellers who have homes that need updating. Why should someone choose you as their real estate agent? I’m not the real estate agent for everyone. I’m a straight-shooter who tells my clients what they need to hear, which is not always what they want to hear. My clients will tell you that I am highly-skilled and extremely service oriented. My wife, Trudi, is my partner. Our strengths and weaknesses complement each other mak- ing us a unique team. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working? I work a lot of hours, so when I’m away from work, I enjoy spending time with my family and close friends. Gary Owen ColDwell BAnkeR ReAlToRS® Cell: (806) 787-4471, Office: (806) 784-3233 [email protected] Realtor Revealed Gary Owen, Coldwell Banker REALTORS® ABR, ASR, CNS, CRS, GRI, A-REO, Photo by Misty Setzler Call us for all your Real Estate Advertising needs! Josh Horsey 806-766-8653 Jason Whittle 806-766-2196 Kendall Krohn 806-766-8646

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The Avalanche-Journal's Real Estate Section comes out every Saturday. It contains local Real Estate related news, editorial stories and features of local Realtors, builder floor plans, real estate classifieds, and much more.

Transcript of Lubbock AJ Real Estate Section 2011-12-24

Page 1: Lubbock AJ Real Estate Section 2011-12-24

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Real estate Produced ByAdvertising Editorial Staff

lubbockonline.com homes.lubbockonline.com LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

Inside Real Estate: WTHBA Featured Floorplan - Page 5Homes.lubbockonline.com - Page 6 On The Web: Check us out on Facebook & Twitter

View Full MLS Listings & Open House List

SATURDAY

Hot Decor Trends - Page 7Local Real Estate News - Page 8

DECEMBER 24, 2011

Where did you grow up? I went through elemen-

tary school in Pampa, TX. I went through middle school and high school in Amarillo, graduating from Amarillo High School. Therefore, I call Amarillo home.

Why do you live in the Lubbock area? What do you like most about it?

I came to Lubbock to attend Texas Tech. When I graduated, I liked Lubbock so much I decided to stay. I like that Lubbock has a lot of the “big city” amenities without all the “big city” hassle, mak-ing it a great place to raise a family. I also like the unifying dimension that Texas Tech brings to the community along with the academic, arts and athletic opportunities it provides to the citizens of Lubbock.

How long have you worked in real estate?

I’ve worked in real estate 6½ years.

What did you do before that?

My original background is in education. I was a band director the first 6 years after graduating from Texas Tech. I’ve been in sales and market-ing for the 14 years since I

left the education field.

What designations do you have?

I hold the following desig-nations: ABR® – Accredited Buyer Representative, ASR® – Accredited Seller Repre-sentative, CNS™ – Certified Negotiation Specialist, CRS® – Certified Residential Spe-cialist, GRI – Graduate RE-ALTOR® Institute, A-REO® - Accredited REO Agent, and Certified Relocation Agent. I’m passionate about educa-tion and being highly skilled so that my clients can feel comfortable they are working with a full-time professional who will take great care of their real estate needs.

What is your specialty? I specialize in residential

real estate, including single family homes, new construc-tion, foreclosure properties, investment properties and multi-family residences.

What are the most chal-lenging and the most gratifying aspects of what you do?

The most challenging part is managing all the different people and entities involved in the real estate transac-tion. There are a lot of pieces of the puzzle that have to

come together for a successful transaction. The most gratify-ing part is helping people through some of the most stressful life transitions as they sell and buy homes.

What tips do you have for someone looking to

buy or sell a home? The #1 tip I can give some-

one is to make sure they are professionally represented by a highly-skilled agent. It’s frustrating as a real estate expert to watch people get into legal trouble, over-pay for a home, sell a home for

less than it’s worth or get into a dispute with a builder because they handled the transaction on their own.

What do you see in the fu-ture for real estate sales?

I believe our current market is the new “normal.” Those waiting for the real estate market to “come back” will be severely disappointed. Barring a major economic melt-down, I believe the Lub-bock market will continue to see prices hold fairly steady for the foreseeable future. Buyer preferences will contin-ue to be for updated, move-in ready homes putting pricing pressure on the home sellers who have homes that need updating.

Why should someone choose you as their real estate agent?

I’m not the real estate agent for everyone. I’m a straight-shooter who tells my clients what they need to hear, which is not always what they want to hear. My clients will tell you that I am highly-skilled and extremely service oriented. My wife, Trudi, is my partner. Our strengths and weaknesses complement each other mak-ing us a unique team.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?

I work a lot of hours, so when I’m away from work, I enjoy spending time with my family and close friends.

Gary Owen ColDwell BAnkeR ReAlToRS® Cell: (806) 787-4471, Office: (806) [email protected]

Realtor Revealed

Gary Owen, Coldwell Banker REALTORS®

ABR, ASR, CNS, CRS, GRI, A-REO,

Photo by Misty Setzler

Call us for all your Real Estate Advertising needs!

Josh Horsey806-766-8653

Jason Whittle806-766-2196

Kendall Krohn806-766-8646

Page 2: Lubbock AJ Real Estate Section 2011-12-24

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2011 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL 5

4418 103rd Street – Lakeridge SouthFeatured Floorplan – Johnny Mosser CustoM hoMes

This week’s Featured Home, sponsored by the West Texas Home Builders Association in cooperation with the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, is a 1920s design built by Johnny Mosser Custom Homes and designed by architect Dan Masters. The home is located at 4418 103rd Street in the Lakeridge South addition and will be featured in the Lakeridge Builder’s Showcase, coming this summer.

This single story home has a gross square footage of 5,677 feet, with a total living area of 3,664 square feet. The brick home features large front

and back porches, with extended exposed overhangs, complete with decorative wood trim, thus creating an aesthetic look for superior curb appeal.

As you enter the home through the generous foyer, which features a Groin vault ceiling, you enter the family

room. A large fireplace and a ceiling with trimmed beams and a 12’6” ceiling make this a room any family can enjoy. The kitchen has a large island, butler’s pantry, breakfast area, and a huge walk-in pantry, complete with its own appli-

ance bar. Granite countertops are featured throughout the home, including the utility room and powder bath.

The master suite includes more of the trimmed beams and high ceilings and an excellent view of the backyard. There you will find an out-door fireplace to enjoy on those chilly nights. The master bath has his and her vanities, garden tub, large walk-in shower with rain can, and a huge closet, for the pampered lady.

The guest quarter has its own private bath and wood floors, with a view of the lovely front porch. This is a perfect retreat for the

family and friends in for a visit, or could be used for the private office space needed in your

home. There are three additional bedrooms, each with their own bathrooms, making this a great

home for any family.

Other features of this home are a basement and a three-car garage; one garage is detached. There is lots

of storage space, and the home will be ready this spring. This plan is available for viewing and there is still time for color selections. The selling price of the home is $469,500.

If interested in learning more, please contact Johnny Mosser at 806-773-8888, a member of the West Texas Home Builders Association.

Production of new single-family homes and apartments rose 9.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 685,000 units in November, according to figures released by the U.S. Commerce Depart-ment today. This marks the fastest pace of housing starts since October of 2008.

“While we still have a long way to go back to normal, the latest numbers are one more indication that housing is slowly turning the corner,” said Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Reno, Nev. “In scattered markets across the country, buyers who have long sat on the sidelines are starting to take advantage of today’s very attractive prices and interest rates, while others are making the move to a new apartment. This nascent trend would be stronger if not for the very restrictive lending environment that continues for both building and buying new homes.”

“Along with recent gains that have been registered in builder confidence and other economic measures, the improvement in new-home production and permitting shown in this latest report provides further evidence of the gradual strengthening that we expected to see in housing markets to-

ward the end of the year,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. “We anticipate continued, slow improvement in housing starts and sales through 2012.”

The 9.3 percent gain in combined starts activity resulted from improvements in both the single- and multifamily sectors in November. Single-family starts posted a 2.3 percent gain to a 447,000-unit pace, which was their fastest rate since June of 2011. Meanwhile, the more volatile multifamily side surged 25.3 percent to a 238,000-unit pace – the fastest since September 2008.

Combined housing starts were up in three out of four regions in November, with the Northeast posting the biggest gain of 53.8 percent, the West posting a 22.6 percent increase and the South register-ing a 4.1 percent gain. The Midwest had exception to the rule, with an 18.2 percent decline.

Permit issuance, which can be an indica-tor of future building activity, rose 5.7 per-cent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 681,000 units in November – the best pace since March of 2010. Single-family permits rose 1.6 percent to 435,000 units while multifamily permits rose 13.9 percent to 246,000 units, which was their strongest pace since October of 2008.

New-home production rises 9.3 percent in November

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Real estate6 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2011 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL homes.lubbockonline.com

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(ARA) – Just about every child wishes for a dream bedroom, but it takes inspiration to transform four white walls into a fairy-tale princess room or tree house hideaway.

Fortunately, you don’t have to be an interior designer or skilled craftsman to become a hero. A little family compromising, com-bined with some simple painting techniques, can go a long way in creating a fun, personalized de-sign that kids love – and parents can live with over time.

Choose Kid-Friendly Colors

Paint is one of the easiest and most dramatic ways to trans-form a room. Start by choosing a color scheme that appeals to your child’s interests. There’s a wide array of colors and creative design ideas that appeal to kids.

One option is the Kids’ Colors collections at Sherwin-Williams stores, which offer four color-coor-dinated palettes, paired with easy instruction guides, for creating de-lightful, age-appropriate designs. In all, the 120 professionally

selected colors fall into four age groups, from infants to teenagers, with color schemes that can be adapted as the child grows.

The techniques are as endless as your imagination. Try adding whimsical polka dots to a girl’s room, create a checkerboard effect for an avid chess player, or paint a faux race car track that zooms around the bedroom wall, across the floor and back up the wall again, for a young sports enthu-siast. More design inspiration is available at www.fisher-price.com.

Using instructions and a few simple tools such as painters’ tape, mini-rollers and a tape measure, you can confidently add visual interest and make even a simple room look incredibly spe-cial. Visit www.sherwin-williams.com/do_it_yourself.

Create storage to Complement the design

Keep your child’s bedroom beautiful by incorporating storage elements that will blend with your design and help keep the space clutter-free. For example, try add-ing a bed skirt to hide a couple of slide-out storage containers for or-ganizing anything from small toys to multiple pairs of tennis shoes. Place woven baskets around the room to create attractive storage in plain sight. These organiza-tional elements can work well in rooms for kids of any age.

Coordinate Colors With patterns

The nursery is another room that lends itself to the dreams of both little ones and their parents. One way to create a cohesive design is to match paint colors with the patterns in baby bedding fashions.

For example, a collection of Sherwin-Williams colors is avail-able to coordinate with popular patterns from the Fisher-Price Baby Gear line of bassinets, baby seats, play yards and other nurs-ery items. The palette, available

at more than 3,300 Sherwin-Wil-liams stores nationwide, includes hues that have been hand-selected by color experts to help tie a nurs-ery design together.

To round out the baby’s room, try adding rugs, accessories or draperies that pick up the colors used on the walls and in the bed-ding patterns.

Choose Bedroom Furniture that Will endure

Select furniture that can transi-tion to a new bedroom design

as your child grows older. For example, with just a change of pil-lows, a nursery rocker can become part of a cozy reading nook later for a kid who loves to curl up and read alone. Bunk beds that serve as a pretend fort now can become traditional twin beds later. Even a frilly canopy bed can become a grown-up four-poster later by sim-ply removing the canopy frame-work and fabric cover.

Just a little imagination, you can create a dream bedroom that grows with your child.

Easy ways to create a dream bedroom for your child

PAInT IS OnE OF ThE EASIEST and most dramatic ways to transform a plain bedroom into a child’s dream room. Start by choosing a kid-friendly color scheme that appeals to your child’s interests.

USInG A FEW SIMPlE TOOlS, you can confidently add visual interest and make even a simple room look incredibly special. Fill the room with durable furniture that can change with your child, such as a canopy bed which can be restyled later.

Fireplaces... Santa Magnets!

Homes.LubbockonLine.com’s Picks of tHe Week

This week’s featured selections from homes.lubbockonline.com are homes in lubbock with fireplaces – just perfect for a visit from Santa! These homes vary in pricing and style.

1. 3812 109th Street is a fabulous new construction in Orchard Park. This 4,000 square foot home has two isolated master suites, along with so many other ameni-ties one finds in a Mike Thoma Construc-tion. There are three bedrooms and three full bathrooms. MlS# 9973693

2. Fabulous, luxury country living close to the city awaits you at 5019 County Road 7500. This large 4,420 square foot home sits on 1.35 acres, has a circular drive, two fireplaces, 20’ ceilings with crown molding, beamed ceilings, two living areas and two eating areas, an office, basement, gourmet kitchen with stainless appliances, an island, breakfast bar, built-in refrigerator, and a three car garage. The master suite boasts its own garden patio and fireplace. MlS# 9979560

3. This is a beautiful 2,607 square foot home in Vintage Township. This four bed-

room, three bath, and 2-car garage home is a must see. It’s loaded with crown and trim, cased windows, wainscotting, an amazing kitchen, gorgeous cabinetry, a walnut island, a huge pantry, and two large family rooms. There is lots of land-scaping, with big porches and large trees. The home has soft water, recirculating hot water, and lots of extras. It is located at 11502 Topeka Avenue. MlS# 9978380

4. Vacation every day in this lovely custom built home in Ransom Canyon. Beauty surrounds you in this spacious three bedroom, three bath, and two car garage home. Features include a beauti-ful in-ground heated pool and hot tub, plus a large patio area and additional yard area with a gazebo. This home has two living areas and two dining areas with built-in server. The location across from the meadow with unobstructed views makes this perfect! This $219,500 home is located at 44 W Lake Shore and is 2,677 square feet. MlS# 9977835

5. Every detail of this beautiful house is simply outstanding – it’s definitely a

must-see home! A great floorplan with three bedrooms, three baths, tile floors and plantation shutters gives the owner a nice spacious feel. In the back, enjoy a gorgeous patio behind an all-brick fence that’s perfect for entertaining. This home is located at 10106 Peoria Avenue and is 2,413 square feet. MlS# 9976952

6. This is a very nice four bedroom home in Suncrest. The isolated large master bedroom has a sitting area or computer area, a large master bath with a separate tub and shower, and a walk-around closet. The three other bedrooms on front side of house have a variation in ceiling designs. There are two dining areas, a living area with a fireplace, and you have access to the patio from the master bedroom, as well as the breakfast area. located at 4506 109th Street, this 2,086 square foot home is awaiting its new owner. MlS# 9978577

For more information and additional photos, including pictures of the interiors, for these and other homes in lubbock and surrounding communities, please visit homes.lubbockonline.com and enter in the MlS# provided.

Go online & view

hundreds of listings in the Lubbock area,

read home improvement articles, real estate tips, & local news.

homes.lubbockonline.com“Your best source for housing

in the lubbock area”

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2011 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL 7

(ARA) – From warm woods and creative colors to memorable murals and tailored textures, interior designers and industry experts predict 2012 will offer a multitude of options for those interested in giving their homes a fresh look. Even better for today’s cost-conscious consumers is that many of the trends are easy and inexpensive.

The FacTs abouT FurniTure

According to Emmy Award-winning home design expert, author and TV/radio personal-ity Christopher Lowell, uphol-stered furniture coverings are being driven more by texture and less by prints. Yesterday’s bulky, stationary pit sofa will be replaced by lower backs and seats along with smaller “footprint” pieces clustered into conversation groups for more flexibility and ease of interaction. Stacy Garcia of Stacy Garcia Design Studio sees a movement of woods from very dark mahogany and espresso to lighter and mid-toned woods, with raw, natural walnut, cherry and white oak being especially prevalent.

Make a sTaTeMenT

For homeowners interested in adding life and personality to a bedroom, living room, family room or office, a decorative wall mural is a quick, cost-effective way to go, explains Todd Imholte, presi-dent of Murals Your Way, whose products have been featured on the TODAY show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Divine Design, Man Caves and Moving Up. With 25 mural categories including Disney, famous artwork, cities and cityscapes, nature, and sports, as well as the ability to create murals from favorite photos, the choices are virtually unlimited. The company also re-cently launched a repositionable wallpaper line.

The righT Touch

According to Lori Dennis, inte-rior designer, author and upcom-ing star of HGTV’s new show “The Real Designing Women,” next year’s textures and fabrics will include iridescent metallic woven within fabric; strong patterns and bold prints; modern floral; tailored woven fabrics like tweed, herringbone, plaid and hound-stooth; velvet/velour, sumptuous dupioni silk, and faux fur. Natural

fibers such as bamboo, jute, euca-lyptus, cotton, silk, wool and cork will remain popular, adds DeAnna Radaj of Bante Design LLC.

a splash oF color

Deborah Wecselman of DWD Inc. suggests starting with neu-tral hues of taupe, beige, cream, grey, black and white, and then adding unexpected pops of color with bold accessories from bright yellow paintings to royal blue vases. Dennis echoes this vibrant color spectrum, with rich jewel tones like emerald, amethyst, sapphire, ruby, garnet and citrine along with deep teal, fuchsia, honeysuckle, coffee and gold.

lighT up Your liFe

According to Bradburn design team manager Martin Lucki, lighting options will include linen shades with clean tailored lines and a play toward texture. Lamp bodies will be made of carved reclaimed woods deftly finished in soft, neutral tones that showcase the natural wood grain. Beverly Hills designer Christopher Grubb of Arch-Interiors Design Group, who considers decorative lighting “the piece of jewelry in a room,” recommends architectural sconces for applying makeup or shav-ing to avoid the shadows cast by overhead lighting.

please Tread on Me

Kitchen designer/blogger Susan Serra sees a renewed interest in woven or knotted textures on rugs with “back to basics” motifs that harken back to simpler times. These rugs are easy and cheer-

ful to live with, make a design statement, and serve as interest-ing foundations for rooms with upholstered or casework furnish-ings most often seen in neutral colors. Lowell also sees a trend toward investment area rugs on tiled floors or those resurfaced with wood or faux wood veneers for better wear and tear and a greater perceived home value.

decoraTing on a diMe

According to artist/designer/author Pablo Solomon, people will continue to look for unique, cost-effective ways to improve their homes. They’ll buy and restore secondhand furniture, swap artwork and accessories with friends, and use yard sale proceeds to purchase new items for their homes. Consignment stores and estate sales will be hot in 2012, adds best-selling author and home design expert Lauri Ward of Redecorate.com, with people discovering the benefits of buying older, distressed pieces that are well made and afford-able. Chairs and sofas that can be reupholstered or slipcovered, and cabinets for storage, will be sought for their quality as well as the aesthetic interest they add to modern rooms.

Top home decor trends for 2012

DESIGNERS PREDICT HOME TRENDS FOR 2012 will include individual furniture pieces with lower backs and seats, eye-catch-ing wallpapers and murals, and a renewed interest in vintage pieces, such as decorative lamps.

(ARA) – Nowadays, our lives are more hectic than ever. But you can pare back your to-do list with some innovative products that make household tasks a little bit easier.

• Skip the morning visit to your neighborhood cafe and brew the perfect cup of coffee at home. Making a pot of coffee takes extra work – grinding beans, measuring grinds and water, brewing and eventu-ally cleaning the pot – and there’s often extra coffee that goes to waste. Auto-matic, single serve coffee machines make it easy to enjoy a fresh cup of coffee, tea or other warm beverage with very little effort.

• Universal remotes are no longer just for the home entertainment system. Newer remotes enable total control of the various

electronics throughout your home. Ranging from simple to sophisticated, universal remotes can control your lighting, thermostat, secu-rity system, pool and more. Verve Living Systems, for example, offers a control-

ler that provides you with the option of programming up to 10 combinations of controls for lighting and temperature, making it easier to save energy.

• Even in the bathroom, gadgets such as electronic

toothbrushes and razors make grooming simple and efficient. Earlier this year, Delta Faucet launched Touch2O.xt Technology on bathroom faucets, which enables you to activate the flow of water with a simple tap anywhere on the spout or handle. The technology also features a sensing field around the entire faucet for entirely hands-free activa-tion. The hands-free mode makes it easier to conserve water during quick tasks, such as brushing your teeth or washing your hands, because the faucet will automatically shut off when hands are removed from the sensing field.

“Our research and de-velopment team conducts extensive research dur-ing product development, examining ways in which people interact with their

faucets,” says Ali McKinney, product manager at Delta Faucet. “This technology provides a cleaner, more efficient way to work with water.”

• Who says you need elec-tronics to have a high-tech experience? Updates to the shower can be intimidating, but adding a handshower can provide greater func-tionality and an improved experience and doesn’t have to be a hassle. The In2ition two-in-one shower, also from Delta Faucet, offers the ability to enjoy water from the showerhead, integrated handshower or both at once for water exactly where you want it and flexibility to accomplish other tasks, such as bathing children, washing pets or cleaning the shower. Plus, installing the In2ition is no more complicated than

switching out a standard showerhead.

• Almost every personal device doubles as a camera these days, but who has wall space for all those framed photos? A digital picture frame makes it easier to keep the photos around your home up-to-date and saves the time and money you would spend ordering and printing new photos. Even more, you can upload hundreds of pictures and set the frame to rotate the images on a slideshow. The latest digital picture frames have a range of style options, memory and fun image-sharing features.

Whatever your need, there’s likely a product, technology or application that can help turn even the most mundane everyday tasks into easy and enjoy-able experiences.

Simplify your life with gadgets for the home

Page 8: Lubbock AJ Real Estate Section 2011-12-24

When it comes to remodeling, exterior replacement projects have routinely rewarded hom-eowners with more bang for their buck. This year is no different, as Realtors® recently rated many ex-terior improvements as among the most valuable home investment projects as part of the 2011-12 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report.

“This year’s Remod-eling Cost vs. Value Report shows the value of putting your home’s best façade forward, so to speak,” said National Association of Real-tors® President Moe Veissi, broker-owner of Veissi & Associates Inc., in Miami. “Inexpen-sive exterior replace-ment projects are not only crucial to a home’s regular upkeep, but are also expected to recoup close to 70 percent of costs. Specific exterior projects such as siding, window and door replace-ments are part of regular home maintenance, so many homeown-ers are already undertaking them. These projects also do not require expensive materials and they have the added bonus of instantly adding curb appeal.”

HouseLogic.com, NAR’s con-sumer website, includes dozens of

remodeling projects, from kitchens and baths to siding replacements, which indicate the recouped value of the project based on a national average. According to the Cost vs. Value, seven of the top 10 most cost-effective projects nationally in terms of value recouped are exterior replacement projects. Realtors® judged an upscale fiber-

cement siding replace-ment as the project expected to return the most money, with an estimated 78 percent of costs recouped upon resale.

Two additional siding replacement projects were in the top 10, including foam-backed vinyl siding, expected to return 69.6 percent

of costs, and upscale vinyl siding, expected to recoup 69.5 percent of costs. Three door replacements were also among the top exterior replacement projects. The steel en-try door replacement is the least expensive project in the report, costing little more than $1,200 on average and expected to recoup 73 percent of costs.

The upscale garage door replacement jumped seven spots to number six this year, primar-ily due to the average cost of the

project declining more than 15 percent nationally. The upscale and midrange garage door re-placement projects are expected to return more than 71 percent of costs. One window replacement project – upscale vinyl – rounded out the last exterior replacement project in the top 10, expected to recoup 69.1 percent of costs.

The 2011-12 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report compares con-struction costs with resale values for 35 midrange and upscale remodeling projects comprising additions, remodels and replace-ments in 80 markets across the country. Data are grouped in nine U.S. regions, following the divisions established by the U.S. Census Bureau. This is the 14th consecutive year that the report, which is produced by Remodeling magazine publisher Hanley Wood, LLC, was completed in coopera-tion with NAR.

Realtors® provided their insight into local markets and buyer home preferences within those

markets. Overall, Realtors® estimated that homeowners would recoup an average of 57.7 percent of their investment in 35 differ-ent improvement projects, down from an average of 60 percent last year. Due to a weak economy, high unemployment in the construction industry and the increasing cost of materials, the price of remodeling projects have risen, leaving many homeowners hesitant to tackle projects or encouraging them to scale back on their plans.

Three interior remodeling proj-ects are also considered worth-while investments. A midrange at-tic bedroom is expected to return 72.5 percent of costs upon resale; of all the projects in the report, it is the least expensive way to add a bedroom and bathroom within a home’s existing footprint. A minor kitchen remodel, expected to return 72.1 percent of costs, is fourth overall, ranking two places higher than last year. Nationally, the average cost for the project is just under $20,000 and is the

least expensive way to give an ex-isting kitchen a complete facelift. A wood deck addition, landing at number seven overall, is expected to recoup 70.1 percent of costs. Improvement projects that are expected to return the least are a sunroom addition and a home office remodel, both estimated to recoup less than 46 percent of costs.

“Resale value is just one factor among many that homeowners need to take into account when making a decision to remodel,” said Veissi. “The desirability and resale value of particular remodel-ing projects also varies by region and metropolitan area. A Realtor® can help homeowners decide what low-cost improvement projects will provide the most upon resale in a particular market.”

Results of the report are sum-marized on HouseLogic.com. To read the full project descriptions and access national and regional project data, visit www.costvs-value.com.

Real estate8 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2011 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL homes.lubbockonline.com

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Leslie Smith and Jan Alexan-der, real estate professionals in Lubbock, have joined RE/MAX Lubbock.

Leslie Smith has been in the real estate industry for more than four years. She is a member of the National Association of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors, and Lubbock Association of Realtors. She holds the Gradu-ate Realtor Institute (GRI) designation. She also holds certificates in Short Sale & Foreclosure Resource (SFR) and Texas Afford-

able Housing Specialist (TAHS). A consistent million dollar pro-ducer, Leslie is active in church, enjoys gardening, and spending

time with family and friends.

“I chose to move to RE/MAX because of the reputation for integrity and a proven winning team,” said Leslie. “They inspire true teamwork and are a strong name in real estate. I am excited to be here.”

Jan Alexander has an extensive background

in residential real estate and has been in the real estate industry

for more than six years. She is a member of the National Asso-ciation of Realtors, Texas Asso-ciation of Realtors, and Lubbock Association of Realtors. She holds a GRI desig-nation, a Seniors Real Estate Specialist desig-nation and an Accred-ited Seller’s Represen-tative designation. She is also licensed as a real estate broker in Texas. A consistent multi-million dollar producer, Jan is active in church and other community events. Before becoming a Realtor in 2005, Jan was an educator in

Frenship ISD and Lubbock ISD for a total of 11 years. She has a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Texas Tech Univer-

sity. She is married to Steve Alexander and they have three grown children.

“We are truly for-tunate to have Leslie and Jan join us here at RE/MAX Lub-bock,” said Director of Career Development Nancy Rawls. “RE/MAX Lubbock offers its associates unparal-

leled career growth and lifelong learning opportunities that no

other real estate firm can offer. We know that both Leslie and Jan will be a great fit and that it is our customers who will truly benefit from their joining us.”

You can reach Leslie Smith at 806-441-3352 or email her at [email protected]. To reach Jan Alexander, please call (806)789-9325 or email her at [email protected].

RE/MAX Lubbock is located at 4703 S. Loop 289. For more information on how you can join RE/MAX Lubbock, contact Nancy Rawls at 806-789-9056. Learn more about RE/MAX Lubbock from their Web site, www.remax-lubbock.com.

Agents Leslie Smith, Jan Alexander join RE/MAX Lubbock

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LocAL REAL ESTATE NEwS

Best investment? REALToRS® say exterior projectsCost vs. Value Report identifies exterior improvements as tops in investment return

Page 9: Lubbock AJ Real Estate Section 2011-12-24

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