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

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.

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE SALE OF A HOUSE?

If you’re uncertain about an item, ask your REALTOR® about non-realty items.

SELLERS
If you want to exclude items from the sale—a dining room chandelier, for example—the contract includes a place for that. Have your Texas REALTOR®help you properly document your intent.

BUYERS
You can request items that aren’t included in the contract stay behind. Do you want the patio furniture? Your REALTOR® will use a different form, Non-Realty Items Addendum, to put your request in writing.

*There may be exceptions
Certain items stay or go depending on whether they’re permanently installed and built-in. Freestanding clothes washers and dryers go with the seller, but built-in units would likely stay. A grill on wheels on the patio leaves, but one that’s encased in stone as part of outdoor kitchen stays put. Three factors determine if something is permanently installed and built-in:

• How is the item attached? Will the property be damaged by its removal?
• Is the item customized or standard for the property?
• Was the installation intended to be permanent or temporary?
Stove
Wall-to-wall carpeting
Ceiling fan
Television wall mount
Chandelier
Window shutters
Smoke detectors
Curtains/drapes and rods
Blinds and window shades
Garage door opener
Shrubbery and landscaping
Window air conditioning
unit

GOES WITH
THE SELLER

Table lamp
Television
Potted plant
Bed
Couch
Dining room table
Area rug
Lawn mower
Hammock
Patio grill*
Bookcase*
Washer and dryer*
Paintings and decorations

STAYS WITH
THE PROPERTY
Contracts commonly used in Texas
home sales state that the house,
fixtures, improvements, and
accessories are part of the sale. Here
are examples of what stays and goes

 

If you’re uncertain about an item, ask your REALTOR® at Brazos County Realty. 

 

Let us help you with your HOMEwork! 

We’re located in the Bryan/College Station TX  and Texas A&M area.  We’re Aggieland!  We can show you any property listed by any agent or agency within the Bryan College Station MLS.  We are also members of the Houston Association of Realtors.

Myke Leatham, Broker/Owner

 

College Station is 6th Fastest Growing in America

College Station, TX Ranked #6 among the fastest growing cities in the nation!
WASHINGTON (WalletHub) – ​​​Four Texas cities have snagged spots on WalletHub’s list of 2018’s fastest-growing cities in America.

​Midland​ and Pearland ranked second and third​​​, respectively. ​McKinney came in fifth, and College Station followed in sixth.

​The four cities were also the top ​fastest-growing mid size cities on the list. Frisco and Round Rock​​ were the ninth and tenth.

Austin was the fastest-growing large city.

​​​​Frisco, McKinney, and Pearland​ tied for first in the highest population​ growth category. Other cities tying for first were ​Enterprise, Nev.; ​​Lehigh Acres, Fla.; ​​​and Meridian, Idaho.

Frisco and McKinney were also first in highest job growth, tying with Meridian, Idaho;​​ Lake Charles, La.; ​Fort Myers, Fla.; and ​St. George, Utah.

​Pharr had the ​​highest poverty rate decrease in Texas. It tied with ​​​Lake Charles, La.; Fort Myers, Fla.; Compton, Calif.; ​Port St. Lucie, Fla.; ​​and Victorville, Calf.

​​​WalletHub asked Real Estate Center Chief Economist Dr. Jim Gaines to chime in on ​the biggest challenges for rapidly growing cities.

“Local government(s) generally cannot keep pace with fast population growth in providing necessary public goods and services,” said Dr. Gaines. “Everything from water/sewer capacity, roads and transportation infrastructure, police/fire/EMS services, schools, and virtually every other service typically lag behind the increased demand for facilities and services. The faster growth occurs, the harder it is for local government to keep pace. It also may not help that current residents may not really want the growth, not want to foster the growth, and especially may not want to pay for the growth.

“The result is that not only are fiscal problems revealed – unwillingness to support higher tax rates or increased bonded indebtedness – but also local philosophical and political attitudes either for or against the growth.”

​The rest of the top ten fastest-growing cities rankings are: No. 1 ​Fort Myers, Fla.; No. 4 ​Bend, Ore.; ​​No. 7 Lehigh Acre​s, Fla.; No. 8 ​Mount Pleasant, S.C.; No. 9 ​​Enterprise, Nev.; and No. 10 Irvine, Calif.​

A couple ‘not so well known facts: 

1.      Interest rates are projected to increase at least 3 times in 2019 with at least one more by December of 2018!   If you’re thinking of purchasing a house in College Station in, you’d better do it fast.  Small interest percentages can increase your mortgage payment significantly.  

2.     Land costs are still increasing.  A typical lot can cost $50,000+ which means homes being built are approximately $300,000 today. 

3.     If you’re thinking about building, it will cost you approximately $6000 through the city of College Station for impact fees. 

4.     There is currently a labor shortage which means if you’re building your dream home in College Station or Bryan, it will take 8-10 months vs 6 months previously.  Plan for it to take a little longer.  

5.      Approximately 4000 people are moving to the College Station and Bryan areas each year.  College Station is no longer considered a small town, but a metropolitan area according to Dr. Gains of the Texas A&M Real Estate Center. 

6.     Dr. Gains reported this morning to local real estate brokers  that Texas has more oil than Russia!  Who knew, right?

 

College Station City Recognition and Rankings    In recent years, the College Station-Bryan area has received many prestigious national recognitions and rankings in a variety of economic and social categories. Here are our rankings since 2009

Brazos County Realty tries to provide community information on a regular basis.  When you’re thinking about making a move to College Station, investing in Bryan-College Station, or would like to consider the area as your new home, CollegeStationHomes.com has what you need and can help you in ALL things real estate related.  Available housing in College Station MLS.  Pick up the phone and give us a call 979-693-0201.  Let us Help you with your HOMEwork!

Myke Leatham Broker/Owner

 

Brazos county Realty, LLC

The good life in College Sation

 

Come and enjoy the good life, Texas style, in Brazos County. Home to more than 190,000 people, this multicultural county is chock-full of charm and culture with a sports and entertainment scene that is impossible to ignore. The Texas A&M University has fueled this counties economic growth. The university has given the city of College Station the title of the most educated in the state of Texas, and the 11th most educated city in the country and ranked as the second best city to do business in by Forbes Magazine, making it an excellent home for would-be entrepreneurs.  Here’s a great list of Bryan/College Station resources.

Brazos County is an economic hotspot.

Major roads and highways criss cross through, making every corner easy to find and  accessible. The Easterwood Airport connects to Houston and Dallas. Growing at record paces with new schools, housing developments, restaurants and shopping, with easy commerce to all major surrounding cities.  The Bryan/College Station area would appear to be ‘Boom Town Central’.  But not without it’s growing pains.  New home construction, new roads, shopping, and new development on all sides with room to grow.  Ongoing Road construction slows things down temporarily.

Things to do in Bryan and College Station

With scenic views and majestic natural treasures, its beauty cannot be underrated. It’s vibrant and entertaining as it is stunning. Sport fans fill Kyle Field, and Reed Arena. Miramont & Traditions Country Clubs are the place to be for golf, while those who enjoy fishing can relax at Lake Bryan. Young ones have fun at the Children’s Museum, where they can make an appointment to hold birthday parties. The Brazos County Arboretum and the MSC Forsyth Center Galleries are other points of interest that are fun for the whole family.  Enjoy theatre productions through Opas.  Community sports through parks and recreation throughout the year for every age.

Who to call

The quality of life in this lovely community is above par where the climate is very desirable and has  two growing seasons. If you need a College Station realtor or are considering a move to the College Station/Bryan area in the  future, ‘Let Myke help you with your HOMEwork!’ If you would like more community or housing information don’t hesitate to call Myke Leatham, Broker/Owner of Brazos County Realty   Here’s access to the entire local Bryan/College Station TX MLS Search  and your very own portal.

Some things you’ll find at the Aggie Real Estate site:

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