City of College Station City Council Meeting

The City of College Station has been working towards adding a Restricted Occupancy Ordinance (ROO) into the neighborhood overlay ‘toolkit’ over the last year.  This would give neighborhoods the ability to put in place the restriction that properties in the neighborhood would not be allowed to have more than 2 unrelated individuals living in any house (owner-occupied or rental).  Only 50% (+1) approval by property owners would be required to put the ROO in place.  The city did a survey last year and that showed that 76.4% of respondents were against the ROO.  City Council proceeds forward, though, disregarding input from staff, residents, and property owners.

This proposed ordinance could adversely impact your client’s ability to use their properties in the future.  Even if there is a grandfathering element put into place, it could affect the sale of properties in the future.

The city will host a series of virtual public interest meetings over the next three weeks.  I have included the details you will need for those meetings.  We strongly encourage you to send that info to your clients, tenants, etc. 

Talking points for these meetings

The virtual meetings will be on February 8 (Tonight), February 16, and February 22, all at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom. Please see the City Calendar for details and Zoom links. Registration is not required for the meetings. The online poll will go live on the evening of February 8 and will close on February 26.

All three meetings are open to the public and you may choose to attend one or more. They will contain identical content but be prepared for specific audiences including the real estate, investor, and development community (February 8), neighborhood groups and associations (February 16), and students (February 22). This three-prong public input approach is to allow for meaningful discussion among each group and for city staff to tailor the presentation and language to each target audiences’ familiarity with development terms and knowledge of zoning and city processes.

Each meeting will provide an overview of the proposed ROO and ask the public to consider three questions.

  • First, are you generally supportive or opposed to the creation of a ROO?
  • Second, if the ordinance is adopted, what would be the appropriate percentage of property owners needed to support the proposal and sign the petition?
  • Third, if the ordinance is adopted, what is an appropriate legacy clause (often called grandfathering) to address properties that have more than two unrelated persons living in a house at the time of a ROO’s adoption?

 

Information provided by the Bryan-College Station Regional Association of REALTORS®

Attention: Short Term Rental Registration Goes into Effect Oct 1, 2020

Well, they did it!  There were 4 members of the College Station city counsel  specifically who bent over backwards to implement the short term rental registration and hotel tax on it’s residence which now needs to be past on to everyone who comes into town.  It’s evident that they love big government and look for ways to raise taxes and make life just a little less comfortable for those who try to get ahead in life. What’s really funny is, now that they’ve imposed these new rental permits, rental inspections, renewal fees, and fines, the city now has to employ new staff to implement  the restrictions and look over the shoulders of people who have been operating short term rentals like Airbnb’s and VRBO’s for years and doing  just fine without big brother looking over their shoulder.  Now, as of October 1, 2020, Failure to file the required reports and to remit payment is a MISDEMEANOR PUNISHABLE BY A FINE AND A PENALTY OF 15% OF THE TAX DUE FOR EACH THIRTY (30 DAYS THAT THE REPORT IS NOT FILED OR THE PAYMENT IS NOT MADE.  Thank you very much College Station City Council for looking out for the residence and making life a little less comfortable and enjoyable to dwell .  Thank you to those of you who fought against the city imposing more ordinances, taxes, rules, and regulations.   Personally…I’m sick of it.  Vote them off of city council!

Most Sincerely, Myke Leatham

SHORT-TERM RENTAL HOUSING

An ordinance regulating short-term rental housing in College Station goes into effect Oct. 1, 2020. A short-term rental is a residential unit that’s rented out for fewer than 30 consecutive days. It includes single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, multi-family units, and manufactured homes.

Short-term rental operators must have a permit and collect and remit hotel occupancy taxes. The ordinance was approved by the city council on June 25, 2020, and included a 90-day implementation timeline to establish procedures, set up hotel tax collection, and allow STR hosts to get permitted. A permit is valid for one year from the date of issuance and must be renewed annually.

Short-term Rental Permit Fee – $100
Short-term Rental Inspection Fee – $100
Short-term Rental Permit Renewal Fee – $75

Short-term rental operators also must:

  • Provide an informational brochure to guests that includes pertinent neighborhood information, how to contact the operator, and local emergency numbers.
  • Equip the dwelling with working life safety equipment such as smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors if using gas/propane, and one fire extinguisher per floor.
  • Maintain the unit in compliance with applicable city codes.
  • Collect and remit hotel occupancy tax from guest stays, filing on a monthly basis

HOW TO APPLY FOR A PERMIT

STEP 1:
Request access to the online permitting system by emailing [email protected] with your name, permanent (i.e., your homestead property) address, email address, and phone number. You must receive a login and password before applying online.

STEP 2:
Know your STR type. The ordinance permits three categories of STRs, and the zoning of your property is relevant to your respective category. To find your zoning, go to the city’s interactive map, click the layer icon on the upper right, then select “Zoning” from the options.

Non-Owner-Occupied STRs: Homes in General Suburban, Restricted Suburban, or Wellborn Restricted Suburban may be permitted only if they are owner-occupied. However, the ordinance also includes a grandfathering provision where operators of non-owner-occupied properties may apply for a permit by Nov. 27. The applicant must demonstrate that the unit has previously been used as a short-term rental through evidence of hotel occupancy tax remittance. To illustrate continuous use, proof of tax remittance must cover a period of at least six of the last 12 — or 12 of the last 24 — months immediately preceding October 2020.

STEP 3:
Apply online. Be sure to include the proper documentation: homestead exemption (if required), Guest Information Guide, and hotel occupancy tax evidence, if applicable.

STEP 4:
When notified, schedule your Life Safety Inspection to ensure your STR meets the ordinance’s life safety requirements. For most STRs, inspections are also required for renewal.

STEP 5:
Receive your permit when your application is approved.

STEP 6:
Register with Avenu Insights to set up your hotel occupancy tax remittance and report filing. The ordinance requires that Hotel Occupancy Taxes be assessed and collected by short-term rental operators. The Code of Ordinances authorizes a hotel occupancy tax equal to 7% of the occupant’s consideration where the cost of occupancy is at least $2 per day.

On the last business day of the month after the month of collection, entities required to collect the tax must file a report and remit the appropriate taxes. Failure to submit the report and remit payment is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine and a penalty of 15% of the tax due for every 30 days that the report is not filed or the payment is not made.

What are hotel Occupancy taxes?
A hotel’s owner, operator or manager must collect hotel taxes from their guests. For the purposes of the state tax, a hotel is considered to be any building in which members of the public rent sleeping accommodations for $15 or more per day. Local hotel taxes apply to sleeping rooms costing $2 or more per day.
The tax covers hotels, motels, and bed and breakfasts, as well as condominiums, apartments and houses rented for less than 30 consecutive days. This includes short-term rentals. Hotel tax does not apply to hospitals, sanitariums, nursing homes, student dormitories operated by colleges and universities, or condominiums, apartments and houses leased for more than 30 consecutive days.

How are local occupancy taxes used?
Under the State’s Tax Code, expenditures of hotel occupancy taxes must directly enhance and promote the tourism industry in College Station.

Are Short term rentals required to collect and remit hotel occupancy taxes?
Yes. According to the Tax Code, a short-term rental is subject to hotel occupancy taxes (see Tex. Tax Code § 156.001(c)).

What is the hotel tax rate for College Station, Texas?
7% of the consideration paid by the occupant of any hotel or short-term rental where the cost of occupancy is at the rate of $2 or more per day.

How often do hotel occupancy taxes have to be submitted?
Every month. On the last business day of the month following the month of collection, every person required to collect the tax must file a report through Avenu Insights, the City’s contracted hotel occupancy tax collector. A report must be filed every month, regardless of whether any stays were recorded and taxes collected.
Avenu Insights offers online filing at revds.com.  For questions, contact Avenu Insights at (866) 556-7274 or by email at [email protected].

I own a short term rental.  How do I remit these taxes?
First, to operate a short-term rental in College Station, you must receive a permit by applying online. Once you’ve received your permit, you’ll need to file and remit your taxes through Avenu Insights, the City’s contracted hotel occupancy tax collector, on a monthly basis. Avenu Insights offers online filing at revds.com.

I thought Airbnb takes care of my taxes?
Some companies like Airbnb have an agreement with the State of Texas to collect and remit the appropriate taxes on behalf of hosts registered with the platform. However, this only covers the 6% state tax rate. Hosts must also file and remit the appropriate local hotel occupancy taxes to the City of College Station and Brazos County.

Is there a penalty for late filing?
Yes. Failure to file the required reports and to remit payment is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine and a penalty of 15% of the tax due for each thirty (30) days that the report is not filed or the payment is not made.
Violations of the STR ordinance (such as nonpayment of hotel occupancy taxes) may result in permit revocation or denial of your permit at renewal.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For questions about the STR ordinance or registration process:
Code Enforcement Division
Community Services Department
979.764.6363
[email protected]

For complaints about STR operators:
Code Enforcement Division
Community Services Department
979.764.6363
[email protected]
SeeClickFix

For questions about Hotel Occupancy Tax:
Avenu Insights
800.556.7274
[email protected]

Tax Credit for Window Replacements Eco-Friendly Homes

 

 

Ultimate Guide to Turning Your Home into an Eco-Friendly Oasis

Originally posted on Porch.com

 

Every day we see our planet crying out for help: choking from smog, drowning in plastic-filled, polluted waterways, and being buried in landfill waste from a use-it-once, throw-it-away society. One of the best things we can do is adopt an eco-friendly or zero-waste lifestyle. Being eco-friendly means trying to help, and not hurt, our environment. Zero-waste means you do nothing to harm the environment and use nothing that could pollute or end up in a landfill.

While in a perfect world we would all practice a zero-waste lifestyle, let’s start with helping you find ways to turn your own home into an eco-friendly paradise of sorts. We have some room-by-room tips that will have you reducing, recycling, and reusing like a pro.

Your “be kind to the planet” journey begins with an understanding that we all leave a carbon footprint, which is the total greenhouse gas emissions produced by a person or in this case, a building. One of the biggest factors of a home’s carbon footprint is how much electric energy it uses. This can be from appliances like refrigerators, televisions, washing machines, and air conditioners.

Reducing your home’s electricity use is a big step in reducing that carbon footprint. So, let’s look at some rooms where you can make earth-friendly changes. In the process, you may even save something green for yourself: money.

Kitchen

Let’s start with one of the busiest rooms of the house, a spot that offers lots of eco-friendly options. Your greener lifestyle can start even before you bring food into your kitchen: the choices you make while shopping.

Food packaging is a major space-filler in landfills. Packaging is designed to be appealing, but it’s wasteful and a big part of this nation’s excess trash problem. Buy eco-friendly, non-plastic packaging, or pick fresh produce without packaging at stores, vegetable stands, or organic groceries. Instead of placing produce and other groceries in plastic bags, bring your own reusable bags.

Recycle all of the packaging you can. Make a goal of putting as little at curbside as possible. If you go zero-waste, this means absolutely nothing would be waiting for the garbage truck.

Shop only for the fresh food you know you’ll eat in the next week so it doesn’t spoil and end up in the trash. This saves money while keeping food from rotting in landfills and producing harmful CO2 gas. Get creative making meals that use up the foods you have on hand. Have a “what’s left in the fridge?” meal once a week. Dice fresh produce like onions, garlic, and peppers and freeze them so you’ll always have them on hand. You can freeze many fruits and vegetables for later use.

Because plastic isn’t biodegradable, it pretty much lives forever in the landfills, so look for ways you can reduce the number of plastic items you bring into your house. For example, resist buying those single-use water bottles. Instead, install a water filter for your home and use sustainably-made reusable water bottles.

When you’re making a sandwich or snacks for lunch or a picnic, place them in reusable containers instead of one-use sandwich bags. Look for ways to reduce your dependency on plastic wraps and bags.

Even washing dirty dishes is an opportunity to go green. Try using less water, and if you’re replacing your dishwasher, research the most energy-saving models with the lowest water consumption. This will save money on your water and electric bills. Using less water also helps save the aquifer.

When cooking, choose your microwave over your conventional stove or oven and you’ll be surprised by how much energy you save.

Bedroom

Believe it or not, there are ways to make your bedroom more eco-friendly. Explore vintage shops or online selling groups for makeover accents to freshen up your decor and try your hand at DIY room updates. Look at television shows and online tutorials for inspiration and advice. Tired of the same comforter or quilt? Shop consignment stores or thrift stores for bedclothes, giving new life to items that otherwise might end up in a landfill.

If your mattress is old and you can no longer get a good night’s rest, it’s time to research mattresses made from organic, sustainable materials. Eco-friendly, easy-to-recycle bedding choices feature manufacturing processes that use less water and no harsh chemicals like microplastics. Try to stay away from polyester and nylon fabrics which aren’t kind to the environment.

Organic cotton, linen, and hemp are among the most eco-friendly fabric choices for your sheets, blankets, pillows, and clothing. Organic products are grown without environment-damaging chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers. Fabrics made from eucalyptus, birch, or beech trees are growing in popularity because of their eco-friendly growth and production processes.

Some companies now make eco-friendly bedding products by turning used water bottles into polyester, helping reduce waste while recycling. How cool is that?

Now, let’s take a look inside your clothes closet. One great way to create an eco-friendly wardrobe is to limit buying new clothes and instead find ensembles at shops that specialize in gently used items. When you clear your closet of clothes you haven’t worn in awhile, consider gifting them to someone else, selling them at a consignment shop, or donating them to a thrift store.

If you own a sewing machine, consider making quilts or other new creations from unwanted clothes. For example, during the Coronavirus quarantine, many people repurposed sheets, t-shirts, and other clothing by sewing them into protective face masks.

Bathrooms

One big way to be eco-friendly in the bathroom is to take showers instead of baths. This saves both water and electricity from your water heater. You can also reuse your towels before laundering them.

Pick eco-friendly healthcare products, ones without harsh chemicals that aren’t good for either you or the environment. Look for sustainable packaging and consider re-using existing shampoo bottles and other containers. Buy large refill containers instead of smaller plastic bottles each time.

Avoid buying “scrubbing” products with microbeads, like exfoliators, body washes, and toothpaste. The plastic, non-biodegradable microbeads don’t just disappear down the drain; they end up in drinking water and also in the ocean and food chain, leaving a wake of lasting damage.

You can also find or make eco-friendly cleaning products for your bathroom and other rooms in the house. Many popular cleaning products contain harmful chemicals that aren’t friendly toward our environment and can be harmful to you. Make your own cleaning products from simple, natural ingredients like baking soda and vinegar or look for natural, green cleaning products.

Laundry Room

For many decades before dryers became popular and affordable, laundry day included a very eco-friendly drying process: a clothesline. Consider adding this to your laundry routine if possible. It’s a low-tech, high-reward way of helping the planet, and leaves your clothes smelling sunshine-fresh. Giving the dryer a rest also puts a good dent in your monthly electric bill.

If your old washing machine is beyond repair, contact a scrap collector to pick it up so parts of it can be recycled. When you’re ready to buy another washing machine, research energy-saving, water-saving models or buy one used, saving it from taking up space in the landfill.

Also, look for green laundry detergents and other products free from polluting chemicals. Those chemicals remain on your clothes which, of course, stay in contact with your skin.

Backyard

Your yard can become an oasis of green in more ways than one. Transform a boring, high-maintenance, and planet-harming lawn (which requires lots of water, fertilizers, and weed killers) into your own edible garden. There’s nothing finer than picking your own tasty, homegrown tomatoes, beans, watermelon, and more. This rewarding project saves you money at the grocery and reduces your dependency on packaging. So many ways to win! There are lots of resources online and at your library on how to start your own garden.

When it comes to fertilizing your garden, make your own free, nutrient-rich soil additive by composting natural waste products like unused fruits and veggies, peels, coffee grounds, grass clippings, and more. Add some brown stuff like leaves, twigs, and dirt, a bit of water and air, and you’ll soon have rich compost. This project not only reduces the amount of garbage leaving your property, but it cuts down on the production of methane from rotting landfill food.

If you live in an apartment or can’t set up your own composting system, you can still reduce your food trash and help the environment. Some cities have composting services that let you save your compostable items in approved containers and the company picks them up.

If you don’t have a yard for a garden, you can grow food in pots on patios, balconies, windowsills, or porch railings. Container gardening is perfect for herbs and other edibles like cherry tomatoes or peppers.

You can also make your yard more eco-friendly by planting trees that are native to your area. Not only will they provide oxygen and stabilize the soil, but in the years to come, they’ll shade your house so it stays cooler in summer. Just be sure not to plant them too close to any sun-dependent solar panels.

Looking for a patio makeover? Consider buying lounging furniture from online resale groups. This gives items a new life, keeping them out of the landfill and boosting your eco-friendly lifestyle. You can personalize these new-to-you furnishings by painting or accenting with cushions and pillows. If you choose new furniture, look for sustainably produced, natural frames like bamboo or other wood – not plastic.

Whole House

There are things you can do for the entire house that will improve its overall eco-friendly rating and make you a caretaker of this planet. One of the first ways is to turn off and unplug appliances when you’re not using them. Keeping them on standby drains electricity, and that ends up costing you money every month.

Turn off lights when you leave the room and choose longer-lasting LED bulbs. These bulbs save a tremendous amount of power and come in different shapes and brightness levels to help you match your decor needs.

In the summer, use your ceiling fans to feel cooler instead of cranking up your air conditioner. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by how much electricity this saves.

When your TV, air conditioner, laptop, or other appliance is on the blink, try fixing it instead of pitching it. Repairs are cheaper and more environmentally friendly than discarding and buying a new appliance. When you must replace an appliance, look for the most energy-efficient model, and try to donate or recycle the old one.

One of the best ways to make your entire house eco-friendly is investing in additional insulation. Over the years, some kinds of older  insulation compacts causing ineffectiveness.   Insulating your attic and/or walls traps more heat or cool air (depending on the season) in your home, so it’s not escaping into the environment. This helps reduce your monthly energy bill, well worth the initial money spent. You can also replace older, single-paned windows with double-paned ones that help retain the inside temperature. Both College Station as well as Bryan, TX have financial incentives for replacement of your old windows.

If you want to take your green initiatives to new heights, look up. Is your house in a sunny location and facing south? Consider having solar panels installed on the roof. These panels transform sunlight into your own renewable energy supply of electricity, reducing your monthly bill and your reliance on the electric company. You’ll get lots of eco-friendly bonus points with this decision, and some agencies even offer a rebate to go solar.

 

Energy Efficiency and Skylights  

You can also replace older, single-paned windows with double-paned ones that help retain the inside temperature. Both College Station as well as Bryan, TX have financial incentives for replacement of your old windows.   There are two reasons that skylights are so popular in green remodeling circles. The first is that, like any window, the right skylight has the potential to help increase energy efficiency in your home (and reduce energy costs), especially when it comes eliminating heat transfer and making the most of passive solar heating. The other reason skylights are so heralded in green remodeling circles is that they maximize natural lighting, as well. Though they are not automatically an energy improvement; they must be placed strategically and be shaded in the summer to maximize energy savings.  Reduce the Need for Artificial Lighting—The more natural light you can let in by installing skylights in all their forms, the less you’ll have to rely on expensive artificial lighting to light your home. In fact, skylights can be especially effective at increasing natural lighting in hard-to-light interior areas of your home.  Skylights add value to your home and are a positive incentive to home buyers in College Station, TX, and  home buyer Bryan, TX,  as well as internationally.  You’ll love your new skylight in the bathroom, walk in pantry, utility room, over kitchen islands, rooms without a window, even the garage and storage sheds. According to Myke Leatham, Broker/Owner of Brazos County Realty, ‘Having sold many houses with skylights, buyers are impressed by natural light and this may increase their motivation to purchase!’

UPDATED JANUARY 2020: The Non-Business Energy Property Tax Credits have been retroactively extended from 12/31/2017 through 12/31/2020

Home Owners Tax Credit for window replacement:  10% of cost up to $500 or a specific amount from $50-$300.
Expires:  December 31, 2020

Details:  Must be an existing home & your principal residence.  New construction and rentals do not apply. Requirements.  Must be ENERGY STAR certified.

You do not have to replace all the windows/doors/skylights in your home to qualify.  And it doesn’t need to be a replacement either – installing a new window where there wasn’t one previously (like in an addition) qualifies.

Tax credit does not include installation costs.

How to apply:  If you have cloudy windows in your home, chances are the seal is broken and are no longer energy efficient.  Fix the windows before December 31, 2020 and get a little money back!

 

Feel Good While Doing Good Things for the Earth

Whether you’re considering adopting a more eco-friendly lifestyle in your current College Station home or moving and wanting to make a change to be kinder to the environment, save money, or improve your health, you’re taking part in a wonderful movement that helps ensure a brighter future for this beautiful planet.   Compost with Red Wiggler Worms instead of sending scraps to the landfill.  Composting with worms (a.k.a. vermicomposting) is the proverbial win-win situation. It gives you a convenient way to dispose of organic waste, such as vegetable peelings. It saves space in the county landfill, which is good for the environment. It gives worms a happy home and all the free “eats” that they could want. For those that have gardens or even potted plants, homegrown compost is a great way to feed and nurture plants.

Call Myke Leatham, a College Station Realtor in Aggieland,  Broker/Owner of Brazos County Realty in College Station, TX to speak with an experienced and  conscientious professional who can really make a difference in the buying and selling process of all things ‘Real Estate’.

 

Brazos County Realty
13464 I and GN Rd.

College Station, Texas 77845
Phone:  979-693-0201
Email: [email protected]

If you’re house hunting or just looking for an eco-friendly home, check out the Bryan-College Station MLS.  Free link to all properties for sale in the Brazos and surrounding counties.

 

 

Protect Your Household and Family with the Right VPN

 

You hear too many stories of cyberbullying nowadays, and how it affects our children’s mental and eventually physical well-being. The sad truth is that’s only a small part of the dangers they face online. Even if you aren’t a parent yourself, there are many cyber threats that could affect your livelihood. Luckily, you can protect yourself against them with the right VPN, or Virtual Private Network.

If you’re looking up houses for sale in College Station or the nearby Bryan TX, I can’t recommend one enough. Here’s what a VPN is and how it will enhance your safety in this warm, small-town Texas community.

What Is a VPN?

Think of your online data (emails, passwords, bank accounts, etc.) as a shipment of cash. That’s definitely how valuable your data is to cyber criminals, and there are many ways in which they try to get their hands on it. Now, think of a VPN as the armored car that transports that cash between two banks (or other such secured locations, like retail companies).

Bank A is you, and Bank B is where your data is supposed to arrive. The armored car is the VPN’s encrypted tunnel through which that data passes towards its destination. For example, your email account and password reaching your provider’s servers safely. Obviously, those armored cars make return trips, so the data those websites send back to you is also safe from unwelcome eyes.

One of the main and most useful features of a VPN is its ability to hide your IP address, which can leak some fairly private info about you online, including:

  • Your city
  • Your Internet Service Provider (ISP)
  • Your ZIP code

This might seem unimportant, but to experienced cyberstalkers and identity thieves it could be just what they need to find your physical location. Maybe even credit card details if you tend to pay your bills online.

Why Your Home Needs the Right VPN

Any College Station real estate agent will tell you that the area has a low crime rate, and the inviting community shows exactly that. Look no further than the Aggieland restaurant scene and you will find a wholesome tale of Katrina survivors becoming community pillars – and serving good food to boot!

But online, it’s a different story. Everyone wishes this sense of warmth could extend there, but that simply isn’t the case. There are almost 5 billion Internet users at the moment, so there’s bound to be some bad apples in there.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t stop with cyberbullies and criminals. You may have heard that the FTC has been investigating Verizon, Comcast, AT&T, and a host of other ISPs. They believed the providers were selling their customers’ browsing and location data, which spells bad news for you and your children’s privacy.

Another example is the intrusive way online advertisers and social media giants use your IP address for location-based targeted advertising. Not only is it unnerving by itself, but we’ve seen a complex version of it used for more sinister purposes, like the infamous Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal.

Obviously, with the right VPN, this is no issue. Since your physical location is hidden and your data is protected against hackers and other online snoopers, you can enjoy the comfy Aggieland atmosphere in peace.

How to find the Right VPN

Your best bet is to see what online reviews are saying, but here are some quick pointers if you only have time to scan through one on your break:

  • Fast speeds – even if you don’t browse the Internet much, you certainly don’t want it to slow down to a crawl when you do.
  • Great customer support – reviews will most likely point out slow service or other red flags.
  • No-logs policy – ISPs are currently logging everything you do online, make sure your VPN provider isn’t doing the same!
  • Read the fine print on free trials and money-back guarantees – check for how much you can use the VPN to be eligible for your money back if it’s not to your liking.
  • Most importantly, use this tool to make sure your VPN actually works as advertised. A good quality VPN will have protections in place and never leak your IP address.

Having put up houses for sale in College Station and the surrounding areas for many years, I can tell you right now that being a realtor and taking care of family life doesn’t leave me with much free time. So naturally, I needed the quick ins and outs of finding a good VPN. Hopefully, my pointers will lead you in the right direction!

We want to make your stay in the area as stress-free as possible, so don’t hesitate to contact us today for the latest in College Station realty.

 

Brazos County Realty, LLC
Myke Leatham Broker/Owner
www.CollegeStationHomes.com
979-693-02001

15 Ways to Show Gratitude

15 POWERFUL WAYS TO SHOW GRATITUDE FOR OTHERS:  100’s of easy random acts of kindness ideas.

I’m truly thankful for the trust, and confidence my clients have entrusted in me at Brazos County Realty throughout this year in College Station, TX.

As  important as it is  to verbally express gratitude,  it’s even better to SHOW gratitude to the people we work with, associate with, and especially our families who are closest to us.   Here’s some ideas that will make this Thanksgiving exceptional and one to remember.

1. MAIL A HANDWRITTEN NOTE OR LETTER TO SOMEONE

Snail mail seems to be a lost art form these days, yet everyone I know loves receiving mail that isn’t just bills. Tell that person what you love or admire about them in a written form and you’ll be sure to make their day!

2. GIVE HUGS – LOTS OF THEM!

You don’t have to be one of those people standing on the corner holding a “free hugs” sign, but do offer up more hugs and affection to those you love. Hugs have been proven to decrease stress levels in both people partaking – what a great way to reduce some stress for someone having a rough day!

3. DO A FAVOR FOR SOMEONE

Whether it’s dropping soup off to your sick friend, bringing coffee or treats to a neighbor just to brighten their day, or running an errand for someone. Simple favors like these can go a long way in showing others that you care about them, and doing these small favors will likely put you in a great mood as well. It always feels good to give to others!

4. PROVIDE ENCOURAGEMENT

Maybe this person is wavering in their abilities and questioning whether or not they are capable of completing something they might like to do. Be an encouragement to them and a cheerleader to help them in reaching their goals. Sometimes all it takes is someone else believing in us to help us make our dreams happen.

5. GIVE A GENUINE COMPLIMENT

If you appreciate how a friend of yours is always so uplifting to you and is a great positive influence in your life, tell them that!

6. SHARE YOUR SKILLS

If you are a master photographer, perhaps offer up your skills to a friend to take their family’s Christmas portrait this year. Or maybe you are excellent at writing resumes and you have a friend who is struggling to find work – offer up your talents, and I’m sure they will very much appreciate it!

7. CELEBRATE THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS

When something wonderful happens for someone else, be happy for them and celebrate their accomplishments. Even if you might feel a bit of envy, push that to the side and focus instead of being happy for that person and celebrate all the hard work they did to achieve their goal. Celebrating for someone else feels a heck of a lot better than throwing yourself a pity party!

8. PERFORM A RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS

Random acts of kindness are such a fun way to spread cheer and joy to others around us! I’m loving these ideas for 50 Easy Random Acts of Kindness from Frugal on the Prairie.

9. OFFER SUPPORT

If someone is going through a hard time, let them know you are there for them. Sometimes just knowing that others are thinking of us and are there with an open ear if we want to talk about it can make someone going through a rough time feel so much better.

10. TIP WELL FOR SERVICE

If your hairstylist gave you an awesome hair cut, or your waiter made your meal an extra pleasant experience, be sure to tip extra for that. What might only be a few extra dollars out of your pocket can really make the day of someone who relies on that income to make a living. Not only that, but it will make them feel good that you acknowledged their efforts!

11. BE FULLY PRESENT

Giving others our full attention and presence when we are with them is one of the greatest gifts we can give. It shows that we respect and care for them enough to give them our undivided attention.

12. PAY IT FORWARD TO A STRANGER

The next time you are getting coffee or a quick meal, try paying for someone behind you in line. A small gesture like this can really make waves of kindness, as that person will likely continue to pay it forward as well.

13. BE POSITIVE

Even when times are tough, it can help those struggling to be around someone else with a positive attitude. Positivity can be super contagious! Wouldn’t you rather spread that than negativity?

14. INVITE THEM TO DO SOMETHING YOU KNOW THEY’LL LOVE

Maybe they have been wanting to see a new movie that came out, or try out a restaurant but can’t find anyone to go with them. Invite them to go with you, even if it may not be your cup of tea. Your gesture will be appreciated and will show them how much you care for them.

15. SMILE OFTEN

Sometimes I think we can underestimate the power that a simple smile can bring to others. I know that when I’m having a rough day and even a stranger smiles at me while grocery shopping, it truly has the power to turn my entire day around. Just knowing that someone cared enough to brighten my day always puts me in a good mood.

How do you like to show gratitude for others? Which of these powerful ways to show gratitude for others is your favorite?

 

Myke Leatham, Broker/Owner

Brazos County Realty in College Station, TX

979-693-0201

Home Maintenance in the Fall

Fall is finally here, which means winter is right around the corner. In the colder parts of the country, those winter months can reap costly damage if homeowners aren’t prepared. Below are some tips on fall home maintenance you should focus on this season.

1. Trees, Shrubs, & Garden

Falling tree limbs could be a major hazard in the winter, and fall is the perfect time to address them. A professional tree service will be able to examine the trees on your property for signs of failing health to help prevent tree loss, and prune correctly to avoid any branches falling off. Take extra care with any limbs that are growing close to the roof or power lines.

In the northern regions, fall is actually a great time to fertilize and reseed the lawn. Although the grass may appear to stop growing this time of year, its roots are actually growing deeper into the ground to prepare for the snowy months. Now is also a good time to prune any shrubs; after the leaves turn, a careful pruning will encourage healthy growth. When you’re finished, make sure to clean off your gardening tools before putting them in storage for winter.

2. Leaves

The changing leaves are synonymous with autumn, and can look beautiful covering the lawn. However, if not taken care of before the snow, those leaves can prevent growth in the spring. When large layers of leave get wet, then can become compact and suffocate the lawn beneath. This also facilitates an environment ripe for infestation and germs. By making sure to regularly rake the lawn, particularly before any snowfalls, you can help keep your lawn healthy for spring.

To make the job as easy as possible, put on some gardening gloves to protect your hands, use a lightweight rake, and scoop the piles into bags. However, you could also consider putting those leaves to good use in your garden. Leaves are rich in nutrients, and can be used for composting, insulating your garden, and enriching your soil. Just make sure to shred the leaves first. A leaf shredder will be most efficient, but a lawn mower will achieve the same results.

3. Gutters

All those leaves coming down can also clog your gutters and downspouts if left unchecked. When it rains, or the snow melts, clogged gutters will cause the water to pool which can cause damage to your siding or roof. It can also create ice dams To prevent this, make sure to regularly clean them out during the fall months. The drainage areas should be completely unblocked by leaves, twigs, or other debris.

For the roof, you’ll probably need to break out a ladder. Use extreme caution when doing this, or hire a professional if you’re unsure. And to save yourself headaches in the future, consider installing some gutter guards to prevent clogging.

4. Safety

Those of you that live in seasonally cold regions know how dangerous it can be just to walk to your front door when it’s icy out. To prepare, make a point in the fall to look for wobbly railings or loose stairs, and refasten or replace anything that doesn’t feel sturdy. Also take a look at your driveway and walkways- smooth surfaces make for much easier shoveling, so repair any cracks or consider repaving if needed.

If you’ve never checked for radon, fall is a good time to do so. As the weather gets colder, you’re more likely to keep the windows and doors shut more often- and trap radon in, which is very harmful at high levels. While you’re at it, test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace any batteries as needed. Finally, if you own a wood-burning fireplace, be sure to inspect and clean it before the cold weather sets in to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning and chimney fires.

5. Plumbing

An commonly known but easily forgotten rule is to shut off the water to your exterior faucets before temperatures drop below freezing and the pipes freeze and burst. In case the pipes do freeze, make sure you know where your shut-off valve is located. Any hoses should not only be drained, but also stored indoors before the winter- leaving them attached could cause water to back up in the pipes and freeze.

If you have an irrigation system, this will also need to be drained. Irrigation lines, even if buried, can freeze in the winter and leave you with busted pipes and sprinklers. The process to drain the system will differ depending on whether it is a manual or automatic valve, so research carefully.

6. Insulate

According to Energy.Gov, between 25% to 30% of residential heating use is due to heat loss through windows. To save on energy this winter, weatherstripping is an easy, low-cost solution. Apply the stripping around windows and door frames to seal the heat inside. Door sweeps can also help along the bottoms of drafty doors. For additional energy saving, grab some exterior caulk and take a trip around the exterior of the home to seal any cracks between the trim and siding.

Next, journey up to the attic to make sure the insulation is still in order. If installed correctly, the vapor barrier should be facing down; if it’s facing up, it will trap moisture and cause water damage. Also, make sure the insulation isn’t covering any vents, which could cause ice dams on the roof.

7. HVAC

If you have window air conditioning units, fall is the time to take those down. If that’s not possible, use an insulating wrap to cover the exterior of the unit to prevent drafts. For central units, it’s not necessary to wrap the entire unit for the winter- doing so can actually cause condensation, which could corrode the unit. However, it is smart to place a piece of plywood on top of the unit for protection from falling icicles in the winter.

Now for your furnace or heating system. Make sure to replace the filters before you start using it regularly. This is something homeowners should do every 2-3 months regardless, but if you’re behind on the maintenance, now is the time. The system should also be inspected and cleaned by a licensed HVAC technician- this is important to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, and ensure peak performance through the winter.

College Station, TX housing market

For the fourth consecutive year according to RECON, the Texas housing market broke records in home sales and median price, according to a Texas Realtors report. However, home price and sales increases are slowing down.  Link to College Station Homes for the best community information for Bryan and College Station, TX.

February 26, 2019

Texas sixth nationally in property taxes
​​​​WASHINGTON (WalletHub

) – ​Texas has the sixth-highest property tax rate in the country, reports WalletHub.

The Lone Star State tied with Vermont with a 1.83 percent effective real estate tax rate. The annual tax on a median-priced Texas home ($151,500) is $2,775. ​

Vermont’s annual tax on a median-priced home ($220,600) is $4,040.

Texas is among seven states that do not have an income tax. It is also among 24 (including the District of Columbia) that do not have a vehicle tax.

New Jersey has the highest effective real estate tax rate at 2.44 percent. A homeowner would pay $7,840 in taxes each year on a median-priced Garden State home ($321,100).

The rest of the top five are Illinois, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Wisconsin​.

Hawaii has the lowest effective real estate tax rate. Residents would pay $1,529 annually on a median-priced Hawaiian home ($563,900).

Other states with the lowest annual property taxes are Alabama, Louisiana, and Colorado and District of Columbia (tied).

For more on Texas real estate taxes, ​read “Texas Tax Conundrum

” by Real Estate Center Research Economist Dr. Charles Gilliland.

Brazos County Realty would like to thank the Real Estate Center for providing  important information about the Texas housing market.  Investors still anxiously watch the College Station housing market.  Retirees recognize College Station homes their perfect choice for buying a luxury property.  College Station and Bryan Texas, home of Texas A&M is not your average place to live.  It’s a highly educated community centrally located between Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.  When you’d like the grand tour, pick up the phone and call 979-693-0201 or take a peak at our phenomenal College Station community  and check out available housing and land in any price range. 1st time home buyers are welcome too.  We’re here to help with all your housing and real estate needs.

It will be our pleasure to help you with your HOMEwork!

Myke Leatham, Broker/Owner

College Station Realtor
Brazos County Realty

 

 

Keeping Children Safe Online

The internet is such an omnipresent part of modern life that it comes as second nature to our children. While many of us are still getting to grips with the online world, children are born into it.

This can be a great thing. If a curious child has a question, the answer is only ever a Google search away. Naturally, however, this is not always a good thing. Anything that can be used for good can also be exploited – especially where children are concerned. There is a fine line between innocence and naivety.

It’s important that we keep our children safe online. Thankfully, even though the internet can appear to resemble a lawless Wild West at times, there are a number of steps that we can take to do just this. Check out the great links at the bottom.

Important Conversations to Have With Our Children

Some children may take the internet for granted, not understanding the risks found throughout the online world. Ensure that you explain the dangers of the internet to your children.

There are three particularly pivotal pieces of advice that must be imparted to our children.

·         Not everybody online is who they claim to be. The internet hosts a great many people pretending to be somebody else. This may just be for fun, or it could have a more sinister intent. Online Sense provides useful advice on how to identify an online predator. If you have any reason to believe that your child is at risk of exploitation online, report the behavior to the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children.

·         Everything posted on the internet is permanent. Your child will need to understand that the internet never forgets. Just take a look at various instances of social media posts coming back to haunt public figures in recent times. Our Children, a division of the national PTA, explains this is in greater detail. Explain to you child that they must always think carefully before posting anything on the internet.

·         The internet is filled with amateur detectives. Children need to understand that even the most innocuous piece of information can reveal their identity. Kids Health offers child-friendly advice on how to choose an online identity that cannot be traced. If information surrounding your child’s identity falls into the wrong hands, their address or personal contact details could follow. This will obviously result in their safety being compromised.

General Online Safety Advice and Resources

There is no shortage of information and guidance on how to keep children safe online. There are also a number of charities and private companies working tirelessly in this area. For more information on how to keep children safe online, take a look at some of these resources.

·         Enough is Enough is a charity dedicated to preventing children from gaining access to online pornography and other harmful material.

·         NetSmartz provides child-friendly advice on how to use the internet safely.

·         Web Wise Kids offers personal accounts of compromised internet safety, and general advice for staying safe.

·         The United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team discusses the dangers that could appear to children online. It’s a dry read, but an important one.

·         Wired Safety is a densely populated site dedicated to all elements of online safety for children. TeenAngels is operated by the same team, and will appeal to older children.

·         Common Sense Media review various applications, websites and forms of media, explaining whether they are safe for children.

Safety on Social Media

When parents think of social media, they usually consider the Big Three networking sites.

·         Facebook has a community guideline policy in place, which largely keeps children safe. Most interactions will also take place on a public wall, which you can monitor. The site also has a private messenger facility similar to email, but this can be disabled.

·         Instagram is entirely picture-based, and does not have a private messaging facility. This means that you will be able to see all of your child’s interactions, and keep an eye on them.

·         Twitter is a tougher site to keep on top of. Many young people use Twitter to communicate, and they even attempt with their favorite celebrities on the platform. To keep your child safe, you can mute particular words from appearing in their feed, and block certain accounts from interacting with – or even seeing – your child’s profile. Also explain that somebody in the public eye should have a blue tick by their name. This is called verification.

There are new social media sites cropping up every day, however. Some of the other popular sites and apps that should be approached with caution include:

·         What’sApp is a text messaging platform that’s very popular with young people, as it enables picture messages to be exchanged for free. What’sApp messages can be encrypted, and easily hidden. It’s inadvisable for any child younger than a teen has access to What’sApp, and even then, it should be monitored.

·         Snapchat is potentially hugely dangerous.This is a social media platform that enables pictures to be sent to users, which are then deleted almost immediately. If somebody knows your child’s Snapchat username, they can send them a message of whatever they wish. TeenSafe sheds more light onto the dangers of Snapchat.

·         Kik is a new private messagingapp that is becoming increasingly popular. According to Common Sense Media, it is very unsafe for vulnerable people. The British website Net Aware appears to back up this view, claiming that the site leaves children exposed to a high risk of sexual exploitation and above average risk of bullying, violence and criminal activity.

When monitoring your child’s messages, it may initially look like a foreign language that you do not speak. The internet comes with its own long list of shorthand acronyms. Smart Words compiles a list of these. Some of them are truly terrifying to a parent. Learn them well, and understand what your children are saying online – and just as importantly, what people are saying to them.

Gaming and Video Content Online

Many young people now access all of their entertainment online. Streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu have replaced hard copy media such as DVDs for most teenagers.

That can make it easier for children to access material that you would rather they didn’t, even with adult filter blocks in place. Would you really be comfortable with your tween watching Game of Thrones, or Orange is the New Black? Techwiser explains how set parental controls on your video streaming sites.

In addition to this, you should also keep an eye on video upload sites that your child may be using. YouTube is commonplace, but there are many others that you may not be familiar with. Check if your child is watching live streams of video games on Twitch, for example. It may sound like pulling teeth to you, but children and teens love it!

On the subject of video games, many young people play online with strangers. Monitor your child while they do this, and ensure they are not spending too much time online. Popular blog The Dadcade shares insights on how to keep your child safe while they play games online.

Blocking Content on the Internet

If you are concerned about what your child is looking at online, you can block particular sites. Your child may need to use Wikipedia for their homework, for example, but why would they need to look at an adult dating site?

·         Techwalla explains how to block particular searches in Google and other popular search engines.

·         Tech Radar lists the many and varied pieces of software that parents can use to monitor and block sites that their children may be accessing.

·         Clean Browsing offers general advice on blocking adult content from your internet browser.

Cyber Bullying

Many children struggle with bullying online. This can be a very serious problem, as in the modern age of smartphones and tablets there can be no escape from targeted harassment. There are a number of resources dedicated to helping your recognize, and prevent, cyber bullying. These include:

·         Cyberbully.org is a charity that works tirelessly to put a stop to this harmful behavior.

·         CyberBullyHelp is a site dedicated to offering advice on this problem.

·         The Cyberbulling Research Center breaks down research on patterns and behaviors that surround online harassment.

·         That’s Not Cool is a site that specializes in informing children as to what is appropriate behavior on the internet.

.         Test your CyberBullying Preparedness with this quiz.

 

If your child complains about being bullied on the internet, take it seriously. It’s not as simple as just not going online. The web is too commonplace for this.

Useful Links

Please see below for a summary of the links that we have discussed throughout this article.

·         Common Sense Media – www.commonsensemedia.org

·         Cyberbully – www.cyberbully.org

·         CyberBullyHelp – www.cyberbullyhelp.com

·         Cyberbullying Research Center – www.cyberbullying.org

·         The Dadcade – www.thedadcade.com

·         Enough is Enough – www.enough.org

·         Kids Health – www.kidshealth.org

·         Natl Center of Missing and Exploited Children – www.missingkids.org

·         NetSmartz – www.netsmartz.org

·         Online Sense – www.onlinesense.org

·         Our Children – www.ptaourchildren.org

·         Smart Words – www.smart-words.org

·         TeenSafe – www.teensafe.com

·         Teen Angels – www.teenangels.org

·         That’s Not Cool – www.thatsnotcool.com

·         US Computer Emergency Readiness Team – www.us-cert.gov

·         Web Wise Kids – www.webwisekids.org

·         Wired Safety – www.wiredsafety.com

Moving tips to make your life so much easier

Moving doesn’t have to be such a mess. Take a look at the 100’s of tips with Pinterest boards I’ve put together for you to minimize the discomfort of moving. Things will be so organized that you won’t have to hunt for anything when you get to your new location.

Follow this link to see how to move and pack like a pro.

Start your move off right. Call Myke Leatham, Brazos County Realty to help you through the entire process. She has years of experience with more than 1000 homes SOLD. If Myke can’t sell your home, NO ONE CAN! ‘Let Myke Help You With Your HOMEwork!’

Check out our website at www.CollegeStationHomes.com. Experience counts when you’re selling one of the biggest investments of your life.

Call Brazos County Realty: 979-693-0201

College Station Real Estate: We sell in the Brazos and all surrounding counties. See up to date listings in the entire Bryan College Station MLS and the Houston MLS.

Home Foundation Issues and what to look for

Home Foundations Issues to Consider when Buying a House

Lighted Beige House

When buying a home, most people consider factors like location, space, condition, and price. Very few home buyers think of the state of the foundation of the home. This is not surprising since buyers are not knowledgeable about the technicalities of home construction. Most are simply interested in finding a place that is comfortable and safe for the family.

However, the foundation is an important factor to consider when buying a home. The foundation makes up the base of the home. It provides the basic support and structure. If you want a property that is stable and will last longer, you have to make sure that the foundation is lasting. Any defect or damage to the foundation can be a major problem. While a leaking ceiling or old electrical wires can be changed, problems with the foundation can be quite serious and can also be very costly to repair.

That is why you should always check home foundations before making a final decision. Here are some tips from the experts of Granite Foundation Repair, a professional repair company in Dallas, on home foundation comparisons and what to look for when purchasing a home:

  1. Do not underestimate the damage.

In general, homes with a foundation problem are sold for 25% less than the original price. In most cases, the cost to repair the foundation can be about 10% of the cost of the home. While you may think you are getting a bargain, you need to know exactly how severe the foundation is and what specific foundation issues you will have to deal with eventually.

A minor crack in the gutter may not sound like a big deal, but an uneven entrance door or a basement that is leaking are major defects that can cost you thousands of dollars to fix. In some cases, the entire home foundation may have to be redone. In such cases, the repair cost can easily go over $100,000. Reconstruction of a home foundation is not an easy undertaking and takes a significant amount of time and money. You need to be sure of the extent of damage before you jump into this.

  1. Get the home professionally inspected
Person Writing on Paper on Top of Table

Always get a home professionally inspected no matter how great it looks. Make sure you get a professional engineer to do it because you need someone who can assess the walls, ceiling, basement, and other structural parts of the house to ensure that the foundation is intact.

  1. This is not your DIY project

Some home buyers think they are getting a home with a foundation problem for peanuts and they will, in turn, save money by fixing the cracks and leaks on their own. But you have to know that a home with foundation problems is not going to be your next DIY project.

No matter how skilled you are at repairing a car, painting, or laying down the tiles, this is not something you should dabble in. Even a small crack needs attention from a structural engineer to ensure that there are no other problems. That is why when you hear the words ‘minor’ faults, keep in mind that no matter how minor if it’s a foundation problem, you should not be the one doing the repairs yourself.

  1. Fix the problems if you want your home insured

To get the home insured you will need to show proof to the insurance company that the home was fixed by a professional. Otherwise, your home will never get insured.

  1. Don’t sign prematurely on the dotted line.
Signature Line on Printer Paper

When you buy a home without a thorough professional inspection and later discover it has a foundation problem, it may be too late to sue the previous buyer. That is why you need to make sure that you are aware of everything related to the property before you sign anything.

In general, getting money to fix a home with a foundation problem can be difficult. Most government loans, banks, and private lenders are not eager to lend money for such a project.

  1. Seller options
Man Wearing White Hard Hat Leaning on Table With Sketch Plans

In many cases, a home seller who knows the home has foundation problem will be eager to make deals and offer you options. The homeowner may get the home fixed before the sale. But, you need to ensure that the repair has been done by an independent professional. You also need to get it checked and verify if the issue has been fixed by hiring your own specialist. Or, the owner may offer you a major reduction in prices, but unless you know what the problem is, don’t accept the offer. You need to know what you’re getting into.

  1. Resale

Homes with foundation problems tend to have a lower resale value even if you have fixed those issues. Keep this mind when making such a decision to sell or buy a home with foundation issues.

When buying a home, it is important to have it evaluated and ensure that it does not have any foundation problems. If it does, and if you still intend to purchase it, make sure you understand the extent of damage and whether you can afford to fix those issues or not.



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