Hello BBBB Friends:
Only 20 shopping days until Christmas, and time is short if your goal is to be in a new home by the end of the year! Many lenders can do a 21-day close and of course, an all-cash deal is pretty much a slam dunk. Even if you can’t make a 12/31 deadline to pop a champagne cork at midnight in your new home, there are lots of reasons to buy a home in the winter. Here are my top five:
Top 5 Reasons To Buy A House In Winter:
- 🤼 Less competition: Fewer people are in the market who want the same house you do. That said, here in the Heights we have a bit of an inventory shortage so houses that come onto the market that are move-in ready and priced at market or slightly below may have multiple offers right off the bat.
- 🔥 Motivated sellers: Who wants to be showing their home when company is in for the holidays and you have to find a place to stash Aunt Edith who is snoring away by the fire (or at least the fireplace)? If a house is on the market now, sellers are either fatigued from having the home listed for months or they are serious about selling and there may be room for negotiation.
- 🛌 Furniture sales: January is the best month for furniture sales to outfit your new home. New styles are released in February and stores need to move the merchandise. Up north, July edges out January for furniture sales because who wants to schlep furniture in the snow? (Note: better to go shopping after you close so your debt to income ratio doesn’t get out of wack and kill your deal.)
- 🤷 Fewer choices: Yes, fewer homes to choose from can actually be a benefit. A lot of buyers suffer from analysis-paralysis and miss out on great homes because they are afraid of making a bad decision or, thinking “what if the perfect house comes on the market next week?”.
- 😎 Better weather: It is so much more fun to house hunt when it isn’t 90+ degrees outside! Enough said.
Today I’m featuring new 4 listings that popped up this week. Also, there were a bunch of new contracts and final sales among homes that are Still on My List, so keep scrolling down to see which homes are probably off your list!
Have a great week and,
Let’s go look at houses or talk about selling yours!!!
Becky
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Becky Davis
Compass Realty
832-628-8221
Thinking of selling? We can front the cost for painting, landscaping, upgrades, and more. No fees or interest, EVER! Click here for more information.
*Note: For purposes of BBBB, the “Heights” is defined as the area between I-10 and Loop 610 N and between Shepherd and I-45).
The Week’s Featured Properties
1840 Harvard: $725,000
- Heights East Historic District
- Craftsman Bungalow c.1920
- 3/2, 1484 sq ft on 6600 sq ft lot
- Renovated in 2009, recent interior paint
- Primary bedroom with sitting area
- Small yard, possible alley access
- Driveway access w/auto-gate 2 car carport w/storage
- Curbed street provides additional parking
- Zoned to Field Elementary
Great location just a block off Heights Boulevard with easy access to restaurants and shopping on 19th and 20th Streets. Heights’ favorite Neo Baguette is at the end of the block.
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704 E 10th St: $985,000
- Houston Heights
- Craftsman bungalow c. 1930
- 3/3/1, 2112 sq ft on 6250 sq ft lot
- Renovated/expanded in 2018
- Side yard with POOL, patio w/pergola and green space
- Garage APT (Studio, 400 sq ft, kitchenette & full bath)
- Alley access to 2 car detached garage
- Graveled parking space in front
- Zoned to Harvard Elementary
Nice block with a combination of new construction and bungalows. Easy walk to restaurants on 11th and Studewood.
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307 E 25th St: $1,225,000
- Sunset Heights
- Modern Craftsman c. 2015 by Michalson Builders
- 4/4, 3284 sq ft on a 6000 sq ft lot
- Classic trim work with moldings, coffered and tray ceilings and built-ins
- Sunken wine cellar with brick floor
- Study or 4th bedroom down w/ensuite bath
- Sitting room up also w/ensuite bath
- Yard with pool potential
- Alley access to 2 car detached garage
- Covered back porch connects house and garage ☂️
- Parking pads in front for additional parking
- Zoned to Helms Elementary
Just 2 blocks to Halbert Park which offers basketball, tennis, and a playground. (Also, no appraisal worries for this home as it just sold for the current list price earlier this fall.)
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1229 Tulane: $1,599,990
- Heights West Historic District
- Craftsman bungalow c. 1930
- 4/3, 2920 sq ft on a 6336 sq ft lot
- Renovated/expanded in 2014 by Bungalow Revival
- Primary bedroom down
- Office or 4th bedroom w/ensuite bath down
- Screened-in back porch❤️, bricked patio, and small green space
- Garage APT built 2021 (528 sq ft, 1 bedroom, full kitchen & bath)
- Alley access to 2 car attached/detached garage
- Front driveway provides additional parking
- Zoned to Love Elementary
Ceilings painted a darker shade than walls are on-trend, can give a room a cozy, modern feel, and work best in rooms with high ceilings. If you don’t like these colors, paint is an inexpensive update. (Click HERE for a good article on options for painting ceilings.)
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This Week’s Price Reductions & Status Updates
PRICE REDUCED
844 E 24th St: $589,999 was $599,999
- Sunset Heights
- Pediment bungalow c. 1920
- 3/2, 1320 sq ft on 4440 sq ft lot
- Expanded/renovated in 2019
- Exposed brick walls and chimney in kitchen/dining area
- Primary suite with walk-in closet
- Covered back deck and small green space
- Driveway access to 2 car detached garage
- Zoned to Field Elementary
The 600 sq ft expansion added a primary suite and expanded living area. I’m not sure you can easily park 2 cars in the new oversized two-car garage. 🤷♀️
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BACK ON MARKET
612 E 8th 1/2 St: $1,389,000
- Houston Heights
- Queen Anne inspired c. 2004
- 3/2/1, 3608 sq ft on 5513 sq ft lot
- Updates are primarily interior and exterior paint
- Formal living and dining
- 150 bottle built-in wine cellar
- Office/study
- Covered back porch overlooks courtyard with small green space
- Garage APT (Efficiency, 462 sq ft., full kitchen & bath)
- Alley access to 2 car detached garage
- Graveled pad parking in front
- Zoned to Harvard Elementary
Convenient location within easy walking distance to restaurants on Studewood and White Oak, Harvard Elementary, Donovan Park, and Heights Mercantile.
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PENDING
935 W Cottage: $550,000
- Norhill Historic District
- Brick bungalow c. 1920
- 2/1, 1182 sq ft on 5200 sq ft lot
- Updated kitchen and bath
- Original List Price: $575.000
- Days on Market: 39
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PENDING
808 W Cottage: $714,900
- Norhill Historic District
- Craftsman bungalow c. 1920
- 3/2, 1681 sq ft on 5512 sq ft lot
- Original List Price: $714,900
- Days on Market: 3
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PENDING CONTINUE TO SHOW
1131 E 7th St: $740,000
- Norhill (below 11th)
- Craftman bungalow c. 1920
- 3/2, 1550 sq ft on a 6750 sq ft lot
- Original List Price: $740,000
- Days on Market: 12
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OPTION PENDING
626 E 13th 1/2 St: $769,900
- Kutschbach (West of Studewood just south of 14th)
- Craftsman bungalow c. 1925
- 3/2, 1730 sq ft on a 6250 sq ft lot
- Original List Price: $769,900
- Days on Market: 10
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Going, Going Gone!
426 W 24th St: $760,000
- Houston Heights
- Front-entry Victorian c. 2016 by Mazzarino
- 3/2/1, 2766 sq ft on 3275 sq ft lot
- Price at Time of Contract: $770,000
- List to Sell Ratio: 99%
- Original List Price: $824,525
- Days on Market: 130
- Seller Contribution to Buyer Closing Costs: $5,000
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1007 Key: $799,000
- Norhill Historic District
- Craftsman bungalow c.1930
- 3/2/1, 1814 sq ft on 5000 sq ft lot
- Price at Time of Contract: $799,000
- List to Sell Ratio: 100%
- Original List Price: $799,000
- Days on Market: 4
- Seller Repairs: $2,642
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700 E 9th St: $975,000
- Stude (Houston Heights)
- Bungalow c. 2018
- 3/2, 2541 sq ft on 6250 sq ft lot
- Price at Time of Contract: $995,000
- List to Sell Ratio: 98%
- Original List Price: $995,000
- Days on Market: 29
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839 Cortlandt: $989,000
- Heights South Historic District
- Queen Anne c. 1999 by Premier Victorian Homes
- 3/2/1, 2549 sq ft on 5082 sq ft lot
- Price at Time of Contract: $989,000
- List to Sell Ratio: 100%
- Original List Price: $989,000
- Days on Market: 7
******
2504 Oxford: $998,000
- Sunset Heights
- New Orleans Garden District inspired, c. 2006
- 3/2/1, 2864 sq ft on 6000 sq ft lot
- Price at Time of Contract: $980,000
- List to Sell Ratio: 102%
- Original List Price: $980,000
- Days on Market: 11
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3724 Julian: $1,025,000
- Woodland Heights Annex
- Craftsman bungalow c. 1930
- 4/3, 2661 sq ft on 5000 sq ft lot
- Price at Time of Contract: $1,035,000
- List to Sell Ratio: 99%
- Original List Price: $1,149,000
- Days on Market: 24
******
1407 Tulane: $1,217,500
- Heights West Historic District
- Articulated Craftsman bungalow c. 1926
- 4/3, 3308 sq ft on 6600 sq ft lot
- Price at Time of Contract: $1,235,000
- List to Sell Ratio: 99%
- Original List Price: $1,285,000
- Days on Market: 69
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719 Wilken: $1,225,000
- Pinelawn
- Modern Farmhouse c. 2021 by Maddock Construction
- 5/4, 3465 sq ft on 5000 sq ft lot
- Price at Time of Contract: $1,250,000
- List to Sell Ratio: 98%
- Original List Price: $1,399,000
- Days on Market: 169
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517 Harvard: $1,405,000
- Heights South Historic District
- Modern Farmhouse c. 1907
- 4/3/1, 2858 sq ft on 6075 sq ft lot
- Price at Time of Contract: $1,329,000
- List to Sell Ratio: 106%
- Original List Price: $1,329,000
- Days on Market: 4
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1305 Ashland: $1,800,000
- Heights West Historic District
- Craftsman 2 story c. 2013
- 4/3/1, 4232 sq ft on a 6600 sq ft lot
- Price at Time of Contract: $1,800,000
- List to Sell Ratio: 100%
- Original List Price: $1,800,000
- Days on Market: 5
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But wait, there’s more…
This is just the latest and greatest; however, there are still lots more on my list that you can check out here:
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