Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Dont be house poor, three things to consider before you buy


You may or may not have heard of the term house poor, not to be confused with the poor house. It has a meaning just as it sounds, having a house that is making you poor. Along with your mortgage payment you should consider how, taxes, utilities and Home Owner Associations as well when looking for a home. Don't roll the dice on your future, have a plan.



Firstly you want to consider taxes, because unlike your mortgage payment interest rate taxes don't remain fixed. 

  • For example, if you live in a big city like San Antonio, Texas that is rapidly growing then you have likely noticed home prices climbing. While on the surface this may seem like a good thing, along with the climbing home prices are climbing property values. 
  • Why does this matter you might be thinking, it is an important factor to keep in mind because as your property value goes up so does your property taxes. In San Antonio, Texas taxes increase by as much as $200 a month in a single tax year for a average priced house. This means that your formerly affordable payment is no longer so affordable. 


The next thing to consider is the price of utilities and any extras that may be involved. For example does the home have a pool, hot tub or water softener? 

  • If so what are your cost going to be to maintain said equipment. If it is a pool, you will have to pay to have it cleaned, there will be equipment repairs and the extra electricity usage for the pumps and equipment. 
  • The average cost of owning a pool is $256 a month, this adds $256 to your monthly expenses. Water softeners will use electricity but more importantly many systems run on salt which has to be regularly replenished. There is also the consideration of whether the system is rented or owned. If it is rented then what is the cost associated with transferring ownership over. 


The final thing to consider also has the potential to cost you the most. Carefully consider the HOA (home owners association) before you sign on the dotted line. 

  • While this may not seem like a significant deal but if you have a mandatory HOA then there can be significant expense associated in the form of dues. But beyond that the HOA has the authority to enforce any and all the bylaws. This can cover anything from the height of your grass, to exterior paint color and even the breed of you dog. 
  • Depending on the laws of your state many HOA's have the ability/authority to foreclose on your home or sue you for things like unpaid dues or fines. It can get extreme and sounds a bit crazy but I have seen it happen, people lose everything over a dispute with the HOA that they legal may not be able to win. 
  • This being said your realtor should ensure that you get all the deed restrictions and information related to the HOA. Make sure that your realtor does a mandatory HOA addendum to protect you as the buyer. 

Monday, September 28, 2015

Are you looking for the best San Antonio houses?

All the Best San Antonio Houses are found on the internet
Best San Antonio Houses
The internet and home buyers from a real-estate agents perspective. 

The landscape of buying homes has no doubt changed, loyalty is dead and buyers are now a commodity. While this may be an overstatement, it is not as far-fetched as you might think. Unlike years past many buyers in today's market do not want to commit to just one agent. They want to be free to come and go as they please.  
 
 
 
What is a real estate internet lead?
 
 As a consumer looking for the best San Antonio houses you go to a website like Zillow or Trulia and you search for houses. While this is a great way to search for homes it also turns you into a commodity. Zillow (much like google) makes its money off the searches that people run. The more searches performed in a designated zip code the more "impressions" Zillow can sell to realtors like myself. This turns almost everyone searching into potential internet leads therefore it is to their advantage to keep people searching.
When you become a “lead” to a realtor (or agent) a process of converting you from a lead into a client begins. This will mostly happen behind the scenes and you will not be aware of it. The agent will do things like set you up on email, post card or calling campaigns. They will regularly stay in contact with you in an effort to be the person you call when you’re ready to purchase. The majority of people who start their home search online are 3-6 months away from being ready to purchase. That combined with the fact that over 90% of people use the internet during the process of buying a home make internet leads the hot commodity. 
 
Why agents look for business online!
 
Some home buyers are interested in working with just one agent from the start. However for the majority of people online they just want information or to view a house. More than likely u did not go online looking for a specific realtor, you just went with whomever happened to pop up for that particular home. The odds are pretty high that if you're a home buyer searching on Zillow, Trulia or other site you are not working with an agent. This may be by choice or it may be that you are still early in the process and don't yet need an agent. In either case agents are paying Zillow, Trulia, ect... for access to people searching in a given zip code. They are waiting for people to request information about a particular property and once the consumer requests information they become a “lead" which is distributed to the afore-mentioned paying agents. 
 
Until you commit, you are will remain just a lead that everyone is chasing and will likely miss out on the best San Antonio houses since they seldom last long. The reality is that by the time a home hits internet it has in many cases been on the market for several days already and has received multiple offers. As a realtor we have access to real time information no one else does which is the difference between getting a house and getting left behind. So the choice is really yours, you can remain a lead or commit to an agent and gain the status of client.
 

Saturday, September 26, 2015

8315 Creek Bend Dr San Antonio, TX 78242

Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/ARFV6X
This home is currently leased for $800 a month with a renter into next year, making it a great investment opportunity. Start getting cash back out of your investment from day one. Here is your chance to own a great starter home or very reasonably priced investment property. House has all hard flooring throughout with, arched windows and chainlink fence around entire property. MLS# 1140231 for sale by same owner as well currently renting for $800 a month with renters into next year as well.
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 1.00
Square feet: 896
Price: $64,900

For more information about this property, please contact Michael Mershon at 210-493-0020 or michaelmershon@realtyexecutives.com. You can also text 3082647 to 67299.


See more listings at: www.gethousewowed.com


MLS ID: 1140237

8423 Creek Bend Dr San Antonio, TX 78242

Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/CGABC4
This home is currently leased for $800 a month with a renter into next year, making it a great investment opportunity. Start getting cash back out of your investment from day one. Here is your chance to own a great starter home or very reasonably priced investment property. House has all hard flooring throughout with, arched windows and chainlink fence around entire property. MLS# 1140237 for sale by same owner as well currently renting for $750 a month with renters into next year as well.
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2.00
Square feet: 952
Price: $64,900

For more information about this property, please contact Michael Mershon at 210-493-0020 or michaelmershon@realtyexecutives.com. You can also text 3082639 to 67299.


See more listings at: www.gethousewowed.com


MLS ID: 1140231

555 COMANCHE PATH Bandera, TX 78003-4597

Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/5SFMV2
This amazing cottage style home has master bedroom down complete with whirlpool tub and walk in closet. With a large loft that could easily be converted into a third bedroom, multiple living areas, an eat-in kitchen, open concept floor plan and tons of outdoor living space, this is a perfect starter, vacation or retirement home. Riverfront park and multiple river access points in the subdivision are sure to bring you year-round fun. Adjacent lot to west of property (.8 acre)available for sale by same owner.
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2.00
Square feet: 2,218
Price: $224,900

For more information about this property, please contact Michael Mershon at 210-493-0020 or michaelmershon@realtyexecutives.com. You can also text 2982095 to 67299.


See more listings at: www.gethousewowed.com


MLS ID: 1132435

209 N Calvin Barrett Blanco, TX 78606

Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/LHULC3
Motivated seller bring an offer prime corner lot in a gated hill country, resort style community. Financing is available with 20% down. Located just minutes from the new 250 Acre Singing Hills shopping center. The subdivision features the Vaaler Creek Golf course, resort style pool, fishing pond, equestrian center and clubhouse to name a few of the amenities that are included when you buy. Membership in the Golf Club (normally $12,900) conveys with the lot and includes three free rounds of golf a month.
Bathrooms: 0.00
Square feet: 13,504
Price: $39,900

For more information about this property, please contact Michael Mershon at 210-493-0020 or michaelmershon@realtyexecutives.com. You can also text 2982054 to 67299.


See more listings at: www.gethousewowed.com


MLS ID: 1132369

210 N Calvin Barrett Blanco, TX 78606

Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/S6KML9
Prime corner lot in a gated hill country, resort style community. Financing is available with 20% down. Located just minutes from the new 250 Acre Singing Hills shopping center. The subdivision features the Vaaler Creek Golf course, resort style pool, fishing pond, equestrian center and clubhouse to name a few of the amenities that are included when you buy. Membership in the Golf Club (normally $12,900) conveys with the lot and includes three free rounds of golf a month. Adjacent Lot # 209 for sale as well
Bathrooms: 0.00
Square feet: 10,454
Price: $29,900

For more information about this property, please contact Michael Mershon at 210-493-0020 or michaelmershon@realtyexecutives.com. You can also text 2982041 to 67299.


See more listings at: www.gethousewowed.com


MLS ID: 1132358

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Why many home buyers of today fear commitment

Why first time home buyers fear committing to one agent.
Add caption
Why should I sign with just ONE agent? 

The biggest reason that you should sign with an agent is that it provides a buffer between home sellers, other agents and you. Without an agent you are a commodity. With a signed agreement you are essentially off the market. Assuming your agent is doing what they should and properly representing you than everyone comes out a winner. Consider these points when debating to sign an agreement: there is no set or required length of time you must commit to and the selling agent represents the sellers not you. 

  • The thing to remember is that you can sign the agreement for as short as one day. This serves to ensure that the agent is there to act as a buffer between you and the homeowner/listing agent. The most common complaint I hear is that people don't want to commit to one agent. This is understandable and of course many people may have had a bad experience with an agent in the past. The thing to understand is that you are still in control of the situation. You control the length of time you commit for as well as many other factors depending on the agreement. The agreement does have some specific binding terms and should be read carefully before signing. 

  • The listing agent is already representing the seller and therefore is not looking out for your interest. This is something to consider when you’re driving around and calling the signs in front of houses. Calling the sign number will almost always put you in contact with the listing agent. The listing agent is representing the sellers and is bound to do what’s in the best interest of their client i.e. the home owner. The listing agent may try to talk you into letting him/her handle both sides of the transaction, a term called intermediary. This is fine if you are comfortable with the process of buying a home and don’t need particular advise as the process goes along. By doing this the realtor/agent is representing both parties and therefore can’t give specific transaction related advise to either side

Assuming that you do not have an agent in mind that you would like to work with, than check reviews by others online. I have found that Zillow is amongst the stricter criteria for agents getting reviews posted. If the agent has 4 stars or better, than it is probably a safe bet that they do a good job more than they don’t. This isn’t to say that bad agents don’t get good reviews, but it is a good starting place. Don’t commit for 6 months unless you're very early in the process or comfortable with your agent. Give the agent 30 days and see how they do, if you are satisfied than continue the relationship, if not than walk away.

Monday, September 21, 2015

The true Iranian deal and the 98 that made it possible

The Iranian deal, perhaps the crowning achievement of Obama presidency. 


Not a legacy to the American people, but a legacy to the Muslim world. A legacy that puts Iran on a fast track to a nuclear weapon all the while giving them 150 billion dollars to continue funding terrorist. There is nothing in this deal that is good for America, but then when has anything Obama done been for America. As usual Obama thinks himself an emperor and the people we sent to Washington have as usual betrayed the country and the American people. 

America is going to essentially become the biggest sponsor of terror with this deal. With the release of the 150 Billion Dollars (back to the regime that wishes to wipe America and Israel off the map) America is funding terrorist. There is no other way to look at it, we brokered the deal and pushed for it on the world stage therefore it rests expressly at our feet.

I have seen several post related to the 34 Senators that voted against the Iranian deal. The question people should be asking is why that number is significant? The Corker-Cardin Bill required a 2/3 majority vote to override a promised veto from the president. Overriding the veto is the only way the bill has any effect. This was no secret and yet it passed with an overwhelming majority. That means we were betrayed by 98 of our elected officials not just the 34 democrats that eventually voted for the deal. 

The Corker-Cardin Bill was nothing more than politics as usual in Washington. It was a weak bill to start with and one that set the stage for a show vote on the deal. There should have been no bill to start with since this deal is a treaty plain and simple. Congress should have brought the deal to a vote as a treaty and done what we put them in office to do (keep the president accountable). We were not betrayed by the democrats, they did exactly what they said they would do. We were again betrayed by the spineless politicians and the Republican majority in both houses. 


The Republican party has time and time again betrayed the American people but never to this magnitude. It is nothing new but the stakes have never been this high and the consequences this grave. Had the deal been presented as the treaty which it is the president would have required a 2/3 majority for it to be ratified? This means that there would have been no deal and that America would be a safer place for it. The powers that be would have you believe that they did everything they could to stop the deal. They are banking on the fact that people will not realize the game they are playing but many do and it is time we took a stand before it is too late. I would like you to name one thing that America got in exchange for the massive concessions that we gave to the terrorist nations that is Iran. 

Friday, September 18, 2015

Why do people insist on taking politicians at their word? 

In what other industry or professions could you get caught blatantly lying and disregarding written laws without consequence? I can’t think of one other than politics. Where lying and deception seem to be the status quo. I am tired of the status quo and I think its time for the country to say enough is enough. 

When will people stand up and say enough is enough? 

  • I have always been a conservative and I love America. Not what America has become, but the America that used to stand for something. Don’t get me wrong, I believe it still exist in the hearts of many Americans. Despite the spineless behavior of our elected officials I believe that America can be great again. 

  • I am not even talking about Republicans or Democrats. The sad reality is that it is to the point that I cant even tell the difference between the two parties most of the time. The political class has no respect or fear of the people that put them in office. We have ceased to be a government of and for the people. Unless you are connected to the agenda of the current administration or the ruling class than you don’t matter. The sad reality is that despite the Republicans being in control of both the house and the senate there is no conservative change. 



Why bank robbers and illegal immigrants are the same!

  • When we will we stop the madness that is political correctness and start calling a spade a spade? We can’t call illegal immigrants illegal because it is racist. What would you call people that sneak into our country illegally without any right to be here? If you said undocumented immigrants than the next paragraph is for you.

  • How illegal immigration any different from a person who walks into a bank and take a bag full of money that doesn’t belong to him? The bank robber is just making an undocumented withdraw because he wants a better life. This is illegal and prosecuted with prison time (as it should be) but who is really hurt by this? The bank is insured and the depositors are protected so it is a victimless crime. Unlike illegal immigrants who come to America, get on welfare and/or take jobs from American citizens. Both are crimes however one is costing the American people jobs and money and one is not. If you look at it from a strictly logical perspective then illegal immigrants are by far worse than bank robbers. I am all for people coming to America for a better life, but there is a system and laws in place for a reason. By all means come but do it legally.



We the people…

When half the country is being supported by the government with no incentive to find work where does that leave the rest of us? It leaves the middle class being crushed between the rich who get richer and the welfare class that keeps growing. 

We the people who elected the spineless beings that are politicians need to stand up and fight. The constitution was designed to give the power to the people and keep it there. Washington has forgotten its place and it is past time that things changed. Do more than vote, get involved and make a difference. It is the start of an election cycle and the country is at a tipping point. There has never been a more urgent time than now to act. 

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

The biggest problem with money is...

How much do you value money over happiness? 


According to a pew research poll men are more likely than not to put earning over enjoyment when it comes to work. Why is it that men put money over enjoyment of their job? I want to examine a few questions below that I and I am sure some of you have struggled with.



How much is enough money to make me happy? 

  • While the answer to this may vary from person to person it is probably along the lines of "enough so I don't have to worry about it". This is an understandable and reasonable response to the question but is it true? If you didn't have to worry about money would you really consider it enough. Maybe, maybe not, people tend to adapt to their circumstances whether they be good or bad. 

  • If you had enough money that you didn't have to worry about it and could maintain your current lifestyle would you really be happy? I tend to think not, the fact that you didn't have to worry about money would satisfy until you tired of not working or got tired of your current lifestyle. 


Why we work...

  • I believe that people work for a purpose, even if that purpose is not something that satisfies them. You are working because you love or enjoy what you do or you are working for the money. You really cant have it both way though. If you are working because you enjoy what you do then money is a bonus. If you are working for the money then you are not working because you enjoy what you do. Most people that take a job for money over enjoyment (which is most men) are doing it because they value money or something that money can bring more than they value job satisfaction. There is nothing wrong with this, I have had more jobs that I hated and did for the money than I did jobs that I enjoyed. 



Do you want something different
  • I am a fan of changing things that I don’t like. I have had numerous different career paths since I was 18 and it took me a while to get it right. I knew I didn’t like a job so i went back to school to get a different specialty. I did this numerous times making progressively more with each job change. What I didn’t get with any of them was more job satisfaction. I had convinced myself that if I could make enough money than my job would be worth it.

  •  I can say after 12 years of searching that this is not true. It is not an easy thing to take a job strictly because you love doing it. It may seem like a luxury that you can’t afford but I would challenge that you can’t afford not to. Money can’t buy happiness and when you spend 40 hours a week doing something you deserve to enjoy it.  


The How to 


  • For me I had to reach a tipping point where I was going to make a change or likely be stuck where I was forever. There will never be a perfect point at which to do this and it will likely be very uncomfortable. But picture yourself at your job till you are in your 60's, does that really sound like a full life to you? If not then ask yourself one question, if I could do anything and money was not a factor what would I be doing? If you can honestly answer that question then you are likely well on your way to finding a job that you will enjoy going to every day till your in you 60’s and beyond . 

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Do you hate budgeting or dieting more?

Debt is like that extra 10-15 lbs. of dead weight that you want to lose. Whether you have a lot or a little to lose you won't get there without a plan in place.

My wife and I started a low carb diet about a month ago. We have gotten great results from it in such a short time. While my wife didn't really need to lose any weight but she was doing it to support me (thanks babe you're the best). The point is that a budget is like a diet for your wallet it only works as long as you stick with it. So how do you keep the debt or weight out of the picture?


Stop dieting...

That is right I said stop dieting, diets only work as long as you stay on them. It is to easy to lose the weight and then gain it right back. You diet and lose the weight which is great but then what happens when you stop dieting and start eating without a plan? Unless you're a superhero (in which case you didn't need to diet in the first place) than the weight comes right back. This same concept applies to a budget. A budget is great for removing the fat (debt) from you financial life. But like a diet it only works as long as you do it. Stop the budget and start spending without a plan and the debt comes back. So what is the alternative? 

Make a lifestyle change...

As we discussed in the previous paragraph it is not enough to make a temporary change you need to make a lifestyle change. A lifestyle change is changing your way of living permanently. This is not to say that you can't use a diet (budget) to get where you want to go but you need to have plan in place to implement for when you get where you're going. My old drill instructor used to say that failing to plan is planning to fail. While I would never have admitted it at the time he was right. It is incredibly likely that if you do not have a plan in place you will slowly slip back to your old ways of doing things. If you were really ok with the way things were you wouldn’t have made a change in the first place. So why not make your hard work and sacrifice count for something by having a long term plan in place? 

The how (the way I did it anyway)…

Accountability is key, and will make the difference between success or failure. So find a person or people that have been where you want to be and ask for their advise. This is one of the simplest and surest ways you can get to where you want to go. There is no reason to reinvent the wheel or go at it blindly. It doesn’t even have to be a physical person, find an online community or website that has the plan in place for you. Wisdom comes with experience and most people are happy to share it with you if you will just ask.

Friday, September 11, 2015

Communication, money and the heartache that both can cause

The two biggest issues that can plague even the best marriages are communication and finances. I will cover three aspects of both that can save you endless trouble.


If you have ever heard of the book "men are from Mars women are from Venus" then you know that while the name sounds wacky there is a lot of truth in it. The fact that Men and women don't operate the same way goes without saying, but guys often wonder what makes women tick? While the answer to that is going to vary, it has been my experience that women thrive on stability. A lack of stability or a perceived lack of stability is going to be an issue in any marriage. 

Common Goal
  • As Men it is our duty to be the provider for our families. If asked most men would say that being able to provide for their family is one of the single most important things they can do. That being said the needs of women for stability and the needs for the man to be able to provide are actually much more closely related than they might otherwise appear. This is a point I never understood until I got married and one that took many arguments to truly sink in. 


Communication is key
  • I as the leader of my family was in control of the finances. I had things in control a majority of the time but I didn’t always keep my wife in the loop. We had large amounts of debt when we first got married and while we got by every month there were many fight over money. I did not take the time to explain our situation to my wife and involve her in the weekly and monthly budgets. It was not that I was trying to keep things from her I honestly didn’t think she cared and I didn't want to stress her out. My intentions, good as they were, completely backfired on me and left my wife feeling neglected and controlled. 



What is a budget if not a plan for your money? 
  • I am a spender by nature and saving does not come easy to me. My idea of budgeting was spend money till it’s gone then go without till I got paid again. It was my responsibility as the leader to manage the budget. Unfortunately this was something that I never bothered to do when I was single so naturally it didn't happen easily when I got married. 



If you are single then start living on a budget now because the longer you wait the harder it will be. If you are married and don’t live on a budget then sit down with your wife and go over the budget together. Create a weekly or bi-weekly budget depending on how often you get paid and keep each other accountable. My wife and I have budget meeting every week to go over how we are doing and see where we stand. I manage the budget but by communicating with her she knows where we stand every week and can take solace in that fact.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

How to avoid paying mortgage insurance on your next home

If we are being honest most of us could use a little more money. If you happen to be one of the few that doesn't need more money then you likely got to that point by having an eye for a deal. In either case I have a simple tip that anyone can use to potentially save them 20% on their next home purchase. That is potentially tens of thousands of dollars of market value. The reason 20% is important is that this is the point that you can stop paying mortgage insurance or PMI on your home with certain loans*.  I am going to summarize the main points you need to know in a few questions and answers.

What is mortgage insurance?

  • Mortgage insurance is that pesky payment that does nothing for you, I repeat you get NO benefit out of mortgage insurance. You not only get no benefit from it, but most people cannot get a loan without it unless they are putting 20% down. If you are thinking what is this mortgage insurance you speak of? Simply put it is there to protect the investment of the lender in case you default on the loan. You pay every month to ensure the investment of the lender and it never lowers the amount you owe, now does it afford you any more protection it is solely to protect the bank.


What is the tip?

The tip is simple, mail all the houses in the neighborhood a letter. This sounds incredibly simple and it is, but the last time I used it I saved my client almost $200,000 on the purchase of their home (market value was $1,720,000 and we got it for $1,550,000). 
  • So a couple questions that often come up, first where do I get a list of addresses and what should the letter say?
  • The list of addresses is public information and should be available through the county of where the house is located, alternately you could ask a realtor that you know/trust to get it for you. 
  • The letter should be short and to the point because people will not read it if it is lengthy. It should simply state what you want to do, namely buy a home in their neighborhood and list the reasons why they should consider selling.

The Envelope
  • The most important thing you can do is avoid using a standard sized envelope. This is the most likely to be discarded since that's what bills and everything else comes in. Use a stationary or any square type envelope to increase your chances that they will open your letter. If you can hand address it or use a handwritten type font so much the better, the idea is that you want it to stand out from the rest of the mail. 



You can try the open market but that is where everyone is so the odds of finding a deal are slim. Your best bet is to think outside the box and do something few or no other people are doing. If you are working with a realtor then run this idea by him/her, it may not work for everyone but if you are looking in a specific area then it could work very well.



Monday, September 7, 2015

The time is NOW to invest in yourself


Do you want to make six figures with just an associates degree? While it may seem hard to believe, there are many jobs out there that will allow you to make very good money without a four year college degree (I know, I know it sounds too good to be true). I am going to give you a list of the top jobs in a variety of fields that will allow you to make well above the national average. As I discussed in my previous post, a four year degree doesn't always equate to job security or good pay in today's economy. That being said, it doesn't matter if you are fresh out of high school (thinking to yourself, I'm not sure about this whole being an adult thing) and trying to decide what's next or maybe you have been laid off from your job and can't find work (I knew I should have followed my dreams of becoming a rock star). Maybe you're just plain tired of being sick and tired of your current dead end job and in need of a change. No matter what your situation, I am going to present some options for you to consider.



We are going to start with the highest paying jobs and work our way down from there. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics BLS, the number one paying job that only requires an associates degree is Air traffic controller. What does an air traffic controller do you might ask yourself? They are those guys that sit in that little tower, that nobody ever sees, and "clear us for takeoff". While this is a gross under representation, it is one small part of what they (and potentially you) do. Though it only requires an Associates degree, there is extensive on the job training which is provided after you're hired. Now many of you are probably thinking this is not a very glamorous job and seems kind of boring but I can give you 108,000 reasons why you should consider doing it. That's correct the median (definition) salary for this job is over $108,000 a year with no bachelors degree required. The second job is a general and operations manager paying $94,000. This position essentially involves supervising the day to day operations of a given field and can be performed with a minimum of one year of experience. This means that while you may not be an expert in a given field but you have a year or more of experience, then you could qualify for this position. This is not limited to a specific industry and in many cases, if you stick to the same job for a period of years you can work your way up within the company. The third job paying just under 100k is a construction manager position. Again this position doesn't require a degree and it only requires 5+ years of experience and has a median salary of 83 thousand a year. While construction in general may have taken a sharp downturn in recent years do to the economy, there are many states that have booming construction industry. In fact, according the Dept of Labor construction industry is expected to grow 24% by the year 2020. 

The next industry I would like to mention is that of the oil field. The introduction of modern technology to the oil collection industry has been something of a gold rush in states. There has been 10's of thousands of people that have been made wealthy by the discovery of oil on their lands but the are not the only ones that benefit. Towns in Texas and North Dakota have been a discovery of oil or natural gas. The unemployment is hovering around 2%. These jobs in many cases are not low paying but require getting a license. Take for example a truck driver, this job pays very well with people making upwards of $2500 a week. The course to get you CDL is not extensive in most states, and with that and a hazmat certification, you can be on your way to getting your piece of the pie. Assuming you don't have any desire to be behind the wheel for the majority of your day and you're not scared to get a little dirty, then you can easily become a rig worker. While it is not glamorous and physically demanding, it will easily allow you to make $80,000 a year. This particular job requires little or no experience and most places will take you with nothing more than a GED or High school diploma. The likelihood is that the industry will continue to grow at a rate faster than they can find people to fill the positions; the time to get in is now! With the advancement of the industry and the expansion of territory that is being drilled, there will be many opportunities for people to work their way up the ladder. 

If you invest in yourself and actively peruse marketable skills that make you more valuable to potential employers, there is no limit to what you can do. While school is great, it's also not for everyone. Plus, school is not cheap and it doesn't always help you get ahead. With things like: the rising of unemployment in the country, the ever increasing national as well as household debt and the cost of a four year degree at an all time high, there has never been a better time to invest in yourself!

Friday, September 4, 2015

When did America become an oxymoron?

AMERICA

Separate it is just a bunch of letters, but together it is the name of a country that used to mean something. A Nation that used to stand for something and which was the “land of the free and the home of the brave”. America was a place where national pride and the American way meant something. Where we made the hard decisions and did what needed to be done despite what the rest of the world thought. This describes the America I was born into 30 years ago, but the sad reality is that I don't even recognize the country I grew up in anymore. Much of the American way of life and the freedom that I served in the Military to protect have disappeared and continue to disappear daily. So that goes back to my earlier question, when did America become an oxymoron? In the following paragraphs I am going to describe why I believe that America is an oxymoron.  

We are living in a generation where men become women and are called courageous, given awards and celebrated as heroes by the media. A generation in which the president funds Iran a know state sponsors of terror and regime that has vowed to wipe America off the map. A country where the government continues to give hundreds of millions of dollars to a company that has been caught murdering babies, tearing (literally) them apart and selling the parts for profit. Where we do stand for gender, not man or woman but for any and all genders. Where there are 58 different types of gender available to choose from on Facebook and Target is removing gender labels because they are offensive and confusing. The standard in the country now is that you must accept any and all genders as failure to do so may result in your livelihood being stripped away. 


We do stand for freedom, we are free to be whatever gender we want, illegal immigrants are free to come into the country and collect welfare checks. We are now free to marry whomever we wish regardless of gender type, how long before people will be able to marry animals. We are free to teach religion is schools as long as it's not Christianity. Anyone is free to come to America illegally without any fear of deportation regardless of criminal record. We are free to speak out as long as we don't say anything that could be construed as politically incorrect. Free to work hard and pay taxes so that the government can continue to issue welfare checks to anyone and everyone who comes to America. When will we as a country stand up and say enough is enough, when will we (the majority of Americans and Christians) take back what is rightfully ours?

So what do we do about it, we say enough is enough, it is time to take a stand for freedom. If you don't care about your own freedom then stand for the freedom of our children and grandchildren. In what is likely to be the most important election in our countries history it has never been more important than now to stand up and be counted. If you agree and want to stand with me for freedom then please share this post.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Out with the general and in with the specific

As some of you may have noticed the name of my blog has changed from "words to a younger me" to "Life lessons from a know-it-all in 500 words or less". I am always looking to improve and this blog is no exception. I wanted something that more adequately described what the blog was all about. I want to do three things with this blog: Impart lessons that I have learned, help you save time as well as money and lastly to give you home buying, selling or renting advise from my experience as a REALTOR®. 


  • I want to impart lessons learned from the mistakes that I have made throughout my life. I will share many of the lessons that I wish I had learned when I was younger. I will cover a range of topics and you may not agree with all of them. If you disagree then please comment and let us start a dialogue about it. I will be the first to admit that I don’t know it all and I would welcome the opportunity to hear a readers opinion. 


  • If there is one thing that I have learned it is that time is truly a finite resource and that it is truly the most valuable thing there is. The dilemma here is that you need money to live and that often is in exchange for you time. So I want to do my best to help you gain more of both, hopefully without having to sacrifice too much of either. 


  • As you have probably figured out I am a REALTOR® by trade and as buying a home is one of the biggest purchases that anyone will ever make it can cost you lots of time and money. The sad reality is that not all REALTORS® are created equally and many don’t care about their clients interest as much as they should. We live in an age of information where anything you could want to know is a click away. This is to say that while you should trust your REALTOR®, if your uneasy about something then do some fact checking on your own. 


To wrap it all up, all three of these things are tied together. It is my sincere hope that you will take something away from each post. I don’t expect for everyone to agree with or find everything I say applicable, but if it helps just a few people then it is worth it. 


As a small caveat I want to promote myself. If you or anyone you know needs help buying, selling or renting a home in or around San Antonio then give me a call. If you are moving anywhere else in the country and need help still give me a call. I work with great agents all over the country and I can get you connected with someone that I trust. For more great information check out my Facebook,  Twitter or Pintrest pages, all are updated daily.  

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Is college really necessary in todays world?

In a day and age when many people accumulate tens of thousands of dollars in student loans to finish a degree, I would like to review three questions that I have struggled with in the past and I'm sure many people struggle with on a regular basis. Those questions are: have the days of a degree getting you a specific job in the work force passed, what are the most sought after degrees by employers, and lastly what alternatives are there aside from going the traditional route of 4 years at a school?

The first question I am going to address is that of getting ahead with a degree versus without a degree. For most people that are finishing high school and searching for "what's next" college is the logical choice, or is it? According to the NY times poll, 40% of College grads are unemployed. While this may seem like a staggering number of people that have finished their degree and are unable to find a job in their field, you have to consider that many degrees do not get you any real marketable skills. Take a BA in psychology for example, while this may be a very interesting subject to study there is almost no psychology jobs that you can get with a psychology degree. One may question this but I have my BA in psychology and there are nearly no jobs that I have been able to find that don't require me to get a masters or higher degree. Other such Bachelor degrees would be Humanities, Social Sciences or a Music degree. All of the afore mentioned degrees are likely to leave you searching for a job without success, working in a job that doesn't require a 4 year degree or going back to school to get an advanced degree. So while this may seem discouraging to many, it is not the end of the story and there is still hope for a bright and vibrant career.

On to our second question, what are some of the top  degrees that are offered? Many of you could probably guess the answer to this question with some accuracy, however there are some degrees that would surprise you. The top degree according to Yahoo education is a degree in elementary education,  followed by Nursing and health care Administration to round out the top three. What may or may not be surprising is the fact that two out of the top degrees are related to health care. The reality is that we will all grow old eventually and there are few of us that don't need an occasional visit to the doctor or ER. This goes back to the age old supply and demand, as long as there are hospitals and people that get old, sick or injured there is going to be jobs for the health care administrators and Rn's of the world. By the same token as long as there are school aged children then there is going to be a demand for school teachers. Being married to a teacher I can tell you that it is a very rewarding career and presents you with an opportunity to make a real difference in the life of a group of children. On the flip side here are the top three degrees least likely to land you a job: Architecture, Fine Arts and Philosophy. All in which are the top three jobs with the highest unemployment rates. While these are all jobs that may appeal to you, there is not much demand in the employment sector for people with these particular degrees. So the truth is whatever your degree choice is in, the likelihood of finding employment in that field is going to vary with the increasing or decreasing demand of times. For the complete lists see the following link  Least valuable college degrees.




The final question we will touch on is the alternatives to the traditional classroom based classes. The truth is that with the age of the Internet there has been an explosion of new schools that got their start doing strictly online classes. This provided a new level of flexibility to people because you can attend classes from the comfort of your own home. Surprisingly the cost of tuition for many of these online schools isn't much less expensive than going to a state school with a more recognizable name. Assuming it is your desire to get a 4 year degree without spending tens of thousands of dollars, and a minimum of 4 years to do so, there are 3 alternatives we will discuss that can get you many of the same credits for pennies on the dollars compared to attending a class. The best part is that all of these methods are accredited by the American Counsel on Education  and therefore will be accepted at most accredited universities. The First credit gaining alternative is College Level Examination Program (CLEP), CLEP allows you to test out of any or all of 33 different classes . You can receive anywhere from 3 to 12 credits just for passing a single exam. These credits are both upper and lower level credits which can be transferred to any one of over 2900 colleges and universities. The  price is per exam not per credit like normal classes and the  cost for testing is $80 regardless of the credit amount. Testing locations  can be found on the CLEP Website. The second alternative that is very similar to CLEP testing is DSST (formerly Dante's). Like the CLEP there are 30+ DSST exams, costing $80 a piece that are accredited and accepted at over 1900 colleges and universities. The complete List of exams as well as Testing locations can be found at The DSST website. The final alternative is a web based system called ALEKS. ALEKS is a web based system that offers a multitude of upper and lower level classes that can be done at your own pace. The average time to complete a class is six weeks and the learning is done all on your time with no deadlines or schedules. Perhaps the most enticing feature of ALEKS is that you can join for $20 a month and this fee includes all your course materials and allows you to take as many classes as you want for the same flat monthly rate.

In closing, regardless of your degree choice there are many quicker and cheaper alternatives out there that will save you thousands of dollars and months of time. While it is surely possible to find a job in any field if you look hard enough and have the right qualifications, it would seem to make the most sense to set yourself up for the best chance of success by finding a degree that will allow you to do what you went to school for. In any case whatever you decide, who doesn't like saving time and money? If for no other reason than to get you working quicker. In a future blog I will lay out how I personally used the methods I have talked about here to gain well over 60 credits that all transferred to my degree at a brick and mortar school.