QueenSpeak

HOME BUILDER BARGAINS ARE HERE!

2010-10-24T15:28:00.000-07:00

CALLING ALL HOME BUYERS - - - It's that time of year again! 'Tis the wonderful season when home builders seek to close out existing inventories and models, They offer incredible buyer incentives, reflected either as a sales price reduction on the new home of your choice, material upgrades, and/or closing costs paid by the builder. Indeed, this is the best time to purchase a new subdivision home.

HOWEVER, just a word of warning to the wise...don't go into a home purchase unrepresented by a professional! You see, that helpful and friendly on-site sales representative is an agent of the builder. His or her loyalty and duty is to the builder, not to the buyer. Their job is to get the best deal they can for their client, thereby producing the greatest net dollar amount possible to the builder. They will not freely offer up options to protect you, the buyer, as it costs their client money. There are things you need to demand at the time of contract negotiations, for your own protection. Some things will save you money when you are ready to resell the house, but you must get them up front. Oddly enough, many people still believe that if they purchase a home without a Realtor, somehow the commission will be credited back to the in the transaction. This couldn't be further from the truth. The Realtor's commission is built into the price of the house as the cost of doing business and, if not used, remains in the builder's pocket. So why not benefit from professional advice and representation since it costs the buyer nothing? My buyers also benefit from many other services I provide, like annual equity reviews, property tax protest assistance, referrals to contractors/service providers, and more.

If I may be of assistance in a new home purchase for your or someone you know, I can be reached at 512-767-5733. Let's get moving together!

I Wish I Could Take This Back

2010-08-26T06:32:00.001-07:00

It's more something I DIDN'T do. The last time I saw my BFF of 49 years I forgot to squeeze her real hard and tell her I loved her. As she drove away I thought "oh, it's ok. I'll tell her later on the phone." But I never got the chance. She was killed by a drunk driver. Now I make sure to tell her every day, praying that she hears me. Lesson: Don't take a single moment or loved one for granted. It's gone in the blink of an eye.

HELPFUL HOUSEHOLD HINTS: #1

2010-06-11T08:39:00.000-07:00

Okay. Although I enjoy reading useful household hints, I seldom remember them and rarely share them. But in this case, I feel compelled to share something I learned the hard way.
GARBAGE DISPOSER CLEANERS - Several months ago I purchase a package of Plink Garbage Disposer cleaner & Deoderizer. They are little yellow balls with some sort of rubberized or silicon coating, filled with a lemon scented liquid. Supposedly, it cleans the food and greasy residue in your garbage disposer, leaving a fresh lemon scent. The key is that you must run hot water into the disposer while using the product. I did, in fact, follow instructions carefully. But I guess my disposer is too old and dull to chop up the rubbery coating. The little goobers became lodged in the disposer and randomly hang up the machinery, causing it to make this loud, haunting shriek, like its possessed by a banshee! When that happens the disposer may be out of order for several days at a time until I can get hot water to shift the little boogers enough to use temporarily. What a pain this turned out to be!

The moral: If you want fresh lemony smell in your garbage disposer, use fresh lemons. But remember to take out the seeds!

Do You Skype?

2010-06-01T18:43:00.000-07:00

DO YOU SKYPE?
OK, so I'm an old dog, slow to learn new tricks. www.skype.com is awesome! If your computer has a webcam you can have LIVE video & audio conversations with friends and family. Just download it for FREE, add your contacts, send out invitations and TALK FACE TO FACE! It only costs if you make phone calls. No charge for computer conversations. Try it!

Check me out at my new location, RE/MAX 1 in Cedar Park, TX. I'm very proud and honored to be a part of the winning team of Tim Kress & Associates where YOU ARE #1!
Call or text me if you or someone you know is thinking of moving! (512) 767-5733

RED SHIRT FRIDAYS

2010-02-18T21:17:00.000-08:00

Show your support for our troops. Wear a red shirt on Fridays! Without fanfare and by word of mouth, help start a national movement of strong, visible support for our military. Regardless of how you feel about the war, you gotta respect and appreciate the troops who sacrifice so much in the name of Freedom. I'll be looking for your red shirt...look for mine!

Disaster Aid for Haitian Quake Victims

2010-01-13T16:35:00.000-08:00

What a catastrophic tragedy in Port au Prince, Haiti, which was devastated by a 7.0 earthquake yesterday. They are now saying there are 1/2 million dead and 9 million in need of help with another 1/2 million or so missing. Haiti was already a poor, primitive country with unbearable living conditions. Running water was a luxury. Now these poor folks don't even have a corrugated shelter to call home and most are frantically in search of loved ones.

No matter what your political views, most Americans are compassionate and giving people who genuinely want to help others. DO YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP THESE QUAKE VICTIMS? You can text "Haiti" to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross Int'l Relief efforts or visit www.redcross.org. Also, NBC Nighly News is actually on site, broadcasting their pleas for help. They've put together a long list of things you can do to help. Visit http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34835099/ns/nightly_news/ for more info. God Bless Us All! We are all one world, after all.

HOLIDAY WISHES

2009-12-23T21:58:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a very blessed Christmas, followed by a happy, healthy & safe New Year. With interest rates still low, selections highs, and Home Buyer Tax Credits as an added incentive, 2010 may be the year YOU get that new dream home! Please call me if I can be of service to you AT NO COST!

"For all thy royal real estate needs"
Rebecca Queen
RE/MAX Capital City
(512) 646-1331
rqueen1@remax.net
www.QueenRealties.com

GIFTS FOR MILITARY FAMILIES

2009-12-14T07:59:00.000-08:00

WANNA HELP MAKE CHRISTMAS DREAMS COME TRUE for military families this year? Go to www.sears.com and click on their Heroes at Home tab. Or just visit http://www.sears.com/shc/s/dap_10153_12605_DAP_Heroes+at+Home?adCell=Egheroes&adCell=W3 to make a donation. Merry Christmas and God Bless our vets and their families!

2009-12-08T12:04:00.000-08:00

Now that you've purchased your wonderful home you will soon be filing your 2009 taxes to claim the Federal Tax Credit.
This is accomplished by using IRS form 5405. The following link will answer most of your questions and provides a direct link to the form at the bottom of the page. http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204671,00.html
CONGRATULATIONS! You've made an investment in America and in your future!

If you haven't yet taken advantage of this opportunity, it's not too late! You must have a home under contract by the end of April, 2010 and close on it by the end of June. The Stimulus Package has been extended beyond first time home buyers to current homeowners who have lived in their home 5 of the past 8 years. They are offered a $6500 tax credit limit.

For more information or to begin a serious search for your new home, contact me right away! REBECCA QUEEN, RE/MAX CAPITAL CITY (512) 646-1331. "For all thy royal real estate needs" *Voted "Best of the Best Realtor" locally in 2008 AND 2009!

Wounded Warrior Project

2009-11-28T19:23:00.000-08:00

Thinking of our soldiers and veterans this Holiday Season, I can't even imagine how lonely and painful it must be to be separated from loved ones over the miles...especially during the emotionally charged Holiday Season. May we be mindful always of their sacrifice and service for all Americans that we may enjoy the freedoms we so easily take for granted.

There are LOTS of resources, websites and links that one can go to in order to contribute or give something back to a vet. One great site designed specifically to support injured soldiers of Iraq & Afghanistan and their caregivers is www.WoundedWarriorProject.org. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter. They do a LOT of events to achieve this massive goal. Most certainly you will find at least one of interest!

Home Buyer Tax Credit: UPDATE

2009-11-07T08:25:00.000-08:00

IT'S OFFICIAL! President Obama signed a new law into effect on Nov. 6, 2009 which modifies and extends to Home Buyer Tax Credits to include a broader base of home buyers. The previous $8,000 Federal IRS Tax Credit for first time home buyers only is set to expire at midnight on November 30th. The NEW version extends a $6,500 IRS Tax Credit to first time homebuyers (haven't owned a home during the past 3 years) as well as current home owners who have owned and lived in their current home for 5 of the past 8 years. The idea is to help first time buyers get into a home and help current homeowners move up into bigger and better homes. There are, of course, income restrictions. For more information visit http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/. If you've been waiting to buy that home, wait no more! You must have it under contract by the end of April, 2010 and close by the end of June, 2010!
So contact your Realtor and GET MOVING! As always, I am at thy Royal service!
CALL REBECCA QUEEN, RE/MAX CAPITAL CITY (512) 646-1331 or e-mail me at rqueen1@remax.net. Visit me at www.QueenRealties.com

FREE Directory Assistance!

2009-10-21T10:54:00.001-07:00

A friend of mine recently gave me a juicy tidbit of helpful information. She asked me if I used "411"' on my cell phone to get phone numbers. I said "frequently!" At $1.50 each now, it adds up! Then she pointed out that there is a better way...and it's FREE!

Just save GOOGLE as a contact in your cell phone. Save the phone # as 46645. Whenever you need a phone number, text message the name of the business and the city it's located in to your new Google contact. Almost instantly you will receive a reply with the business address and phone number!

I was pleasantly surprised to find IT WORKS! Hope this is helpful to you too!

If you or someone you know is thinking or buying or selling a home in the Austin area or surrounding communities, please contact me. I'd love to be of service. Rebecca Queen, RE/MAX Capital City. I'm here "for all thy Royal real estate needs."
(512) 646-1331 http://www.queenrealties.com/ rqueen1@remax.net

Helping those in need

2009-10-08T08:48:00.001-07:00

I'd like to start a safe house for victims of domestic violence. There is a big need for more of them! Funding to help pay the overhead, however, is a huge concern.

Having one of "those days"?

2009-08-04T13:06:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a day full of mishaps and bad luck. I just have to vent! It was my first day back from summer vacation, so I was already dragging my feet back to work. I had just gotten started on my pile of catch-up work when I discovered that our brand new Big Bertha high tech color copier/scanner/fax machine was down...again. And I had a LOT of color printing to do. Sigh...so I resigned myself to working on computer related things. I figured I'd update my blogs, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, answer e-mails, follow up with clients, etc. Wrong! The office LAN system suddenly lost its server connection due to a citywide Time Warner blackout. OMG!

Trying to remain cool and collected, I decided this would be a good time to run some much needed errands, like grocery shopping. After spending twice what I'd intended to spend at the WalMart, I rushed home to put all the groceries away, grab a quick bite for lunch, then rush back to the office. Well...imagine my surprise when I opened my electric garage door opener to reveal my elderly QueenMom with the hugh residential garbage can turned upside down, digging through all the trash. Oh my Lord! She was looking for the tiny piece of Kleenex in which she had wadded up her gold tooth crowns and lost them in a recent cleaning frenzy. Of course, she did not find them in the garbage. But upon seeing me home midday, she was so excited she decided to "help" me. As I struggled to bring in all the grocery bags, unload them on the counters and the floor, then put them away, she parked her chair right in the middle of the open refrigerator. Under the pretense of looking for something to fix us for lunch (she calls it "dinner"), she began cleaning out the contents of the refrigerator and piling up rotten food on the floor...for me to dispose of. So now I can't get to the fridge to put food away OR prepare a quick bite for lunch until I clean up the mess in the floor. As I picked it up and put it in the sink, one of the old Tupperware lids popped off a bowl of rotting beans and spilled everywhere. I had beans and slimy juice in my shoes, on my pants, on the cabinets, and all over the floor. Meanwhile, my frozen foods were thawing! She sat laughing while I bit my lip hard and cleaned everything up.

At last I returned to the office where the equipment gremlins had departed, and I finished out the day in peace. The evening was fairly uneventful until midnight, when I started off to bed. I put Princess Maggie (my Cocker Spaniel) out to pottie one last time before bedtime. She started barking frantically, running from one side of the huge yard to the other, refusing to come back in the house. Then it happened. There was this sudden silence, followed by Maggie rolling and clawing at her teeth. Then the smell wafted through the walls into the house. She had been sprayed by a skunk or squirrel, or something horribly musky. I tried to leave her outside for the night, but she insisted on barking and chasing "it" under the dog house. There would be no sleep unless I brought her inside to silence her. The smell was pungent and lingering. She rolled in every room, on every floor and every piece of furniture, trying to remove it. No doubt it tasted terrible and maybe even stung a bit. Her mouth and snout is yellow. The groomer washed her twice today, even used a "special potion" to neutralize it. She had to scrub her teeth several times to get the thick, yellow spray off. She says the aroma may come back in a couple of days when the perfume wears off. Meanwhile, my car, my garage, my entire house, my bed, and my back porch are infused with the odor.
The moral of this story, if any, is "Never say it can't get worse!"

What would you do for $8,000?

2009-08-04T13:04:00.000-07:00

You won't believe the results of this street survey.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dsa0GqGDDrA

HELP FOR FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS AND RETURNING VETS

2009-07-13T12:02:00.000-07:00

ATTENTION FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS AND RETURNING VETS!
If you’ve been thinking about buying a home, wait no more! The time limit for your $8,000 IRS Tax Credit is fast approaching. You must effectively have a home under contract by September to obtain financing, close the transaction and move in by the end of November, 2009.

GOOD NEWS...there is a LOT of financial assistance available!

Contact Rebecca Queen, RE/MAX Capital City today! Certified Affordable Housing Specialist.
(512) 646-1331

Voted Cedar Park & Leander's "Best of the Best Realtor" in 2008 & 2009

Looking for a great home security system?

2009-07-05T19:24:00.001-07:00

Recently my 36 month contract with ADT Security finally expired and I was free to shop around for a more customer friendly company. After doing my online research and reading testimonials and complaints about various companies, one really stood out. APX Alarms, based out of Utah, has great customer reports and extremely high industry ratings. So I gave them a call and was completely blown away by their customer service and everything I can get for my money! For about the same price I'd already been paying per month, they included a glass breakage sensor, a smoke alarm which automatically calls the fire department, a remote control device for the system, and a panic button for my elderly mom to wear around her neck. If she needs emergency medical attention she only has to press the button to summon the EMT's. That in itself is a huge relief! The technicians have been courteous, conscientious, highly trained, and very helpful. And it's good to know that APX installers and service techs are on staff (not subcontractors) and must past rigorous screening and background checks, so I know the person working in my home is trustworthy. Did I mention the yard sign has a solar panel so it lights up at night? I'm so impressed with APX! I know you will be too. If you are shopping for the best home security & monitoring company, give them a call...and tell them Rebecca Queen sent you!
Their website is www.APXAlarms.com.

Miracles Every Day

2009-05-03T04:37:00.000-07:00

Open your eyes to the miracles...they're all around you!

www.QueenRealties.com

Random Acts of Kindness

2009-04-28T14:12:00.000-07:00

Did you practice at least one random act of kindness today? It's very rewarding!

2009-04-17T18:55:00.000-07:00

For the second year in a row, I have been bestowed with an incredible honor...that of Cedar Park & Leander's (Texas) Best of the Best Realtor - 1st Place. The reason this is such an awesome award is that it is the result of a write-in campaign in the local newspaper, The Hill Country News, serving a community of about 80,000 citizens. This humbles me in a way that is difficult to explain. It's far more rewarding to me than production plaques and sales awards, because it is an actual people's choice award! It's a testimony to the high level of Customer Care and follow-up service that I offer, and the wonderment of developing actual relationships with my clients whom I care about very deeply. From the bottom of my heart, I thank everyone who voted for me. I truly appreciate it and love you right back!

Blessings - Rebecca Queen "For all thy Royal realty needs"

Getting a CLUE about homeowners insurance

2009-04-11T16:18:00.000-07:00

When a homeowner files a claim with their insurance company, it is recorded in the company’s records and then sent to the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE), an insurance industry database. Ultimately, that information is shared with other insurance companies when you shop for new insurance coverage. It is not typically used for renewing coverage with your current insurance company.
CLUE and buying a homeEven if you’ve had no problems getting insurance in years past, if you buy a house that comes up with a number of claims against it, you may not be able to get insurance.
Here’s why: When an insurance company considers whether to offer you insurance, they’re not just looking at your history, but the history of the property in question.
To learn more about this topic and many more, visit www.TexasRealEstate.com, the consumer information website of the Texas Association of Realtors.

FREE Local Home Buyer Seminar

2009-04-04T09:32:00.000-07:00

Capital City Funding, the in-house lender for RE/MAX Capital City in Austin, Texas, offers a FREE HomeBuyer Seminar each month. They last 1-2 hours, depending on audience participation and questions. And they are very informative, whether you've owned a home before or are a first time home buyer. Lynn Morenz, the Senior Mortgage Broker, will update you on industry changes, mortgage requirements, give you tips on how to improve your credit scores and your chances of buying a better house, and answer all your mortage questions. She can even run your credit on-site to get you started on the road toward home ownership! http://www.capitalcityfunding.net

Call for dates and times. (512) 918-0200

Of course, you'll need a top notch Realtor after you get pre-qualified, to walk you through the process and protect you from all the pitfalls of purchasing real estate without proper representation. That's where I come in. Shopping for your dream home is the fun part! But once you've made your choice, that's when my work really begins. Fortunately, you never have to see all the behind-the-scenes coordinations and detail work it takes to make a smooth transaction. I am your professional buffer from the stress, as much as possible. I'm there with you before, during, and long after the sale. I want to be your real estate professional for life. I'm a firm believer in developing relationships built on trust and integrity, the kind that last for years to come. I also offer all kinds of contractor referrals and community resources. If you or someone you know deserves that kind of comittment from their Realtor, I'm your girl! Remember, I am here "for all thy Royal realty needs!" Rebecca Queen - RE/MAX Capital City (512) 646-1331

www.QueenRealties.com E-mail me at rqueen1@remax.net

Thank a Soldier today!

2009-03-23T13:33:00.000-07:00

I am reminded every day how blessed we are to live in the United States of America! No, it's not a perfect place, but I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. We have tremendous freedoms that are not possible in other countries, and we routinely take them for granted. Just the freedom to disagree and speak openly about it is a luxury that was a hard-fought battle. Christians are still being murdered abroad, yet we praise our God freely in this country. We are still able to procreate in this country, without fear that our daughters will be killed by the government. There are tragic abominations that occur throughout the world every day that are unimaginable to Americans, as we live in such a Blessed land. Of course, that can all change in the blink of an eye if we are not thankful and vigilant.

I'm not a radical Patriot, but I certainly appreciate the Veterans and soldiers who have sacrificed so greatly for this country. Please be sure to say "thank you" to our military men and women, as well as past Veterans whenever the opportunity presents itself.

To learn more, visit http://www.gratitudecampaign.org/.

I'll spend my golden years in Lahaina, Hawaii

2009-03-22T16:26:00.001-07:00

If I ever return to Hawaii, I'm not coming back home.

It's paradise, a world away from stress and worries. All natural beauty, not commercialized or man-made. I'd sit on the shores and watch the whales and their babies swim by, or snorkel with the turtles. It's my happy place! And when I got bored feasting on pineapples and coconuts and watching the incredible beauty of the ocean, I'd hop in a helicopter and take a spin above it all, to enjoy the places I can't reach by ground. AWESOME!

Inspirational Thoughts

2009-03-19T13:19:00.000-07:00

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."~Thomas Edison

I just came from a very powerful RE/MAX webcast where the guest speaker was Chris Gardner...the guy they made the movie "The Pursuit of Happyness" about. WOW! What a positive, uplifting message he had to share in spite of all he's been through! The bottom line is this...strap yourself in and enjoy the ride. A lot of daily life is well beyond our control, but how we choose to deal with it is totally up to us.

In these trying times, with all the naysayers bombarding the media with negativity, it's important to keep things in perspective. The sky is NOT falling, tomorrow the sun will shine, and we will all survive these challenges...perhaps in a way we never dreamed of before. The key is keeping a positive attitude and being adaptable. In God We Trust!

What a Roller Coaster Housing Market!

2009-03-07T11:03:00.000-08:00

What a crazy roller coaster housing market this is lately! I was just telling someone today I'm thinking of shaving my head and joining a monastery. Just kidding, of course, but the daily challenges we all face now just to survive this economy force us to think more creatively and aggressively than we are accustomed to doing.

Even though it's a strange real estate market right now, but it's still easy to buy a home if your credit score is over 640 and you have a dependable job.

One little caveat - if you're in a position to buy a house - look for one that's in a close-in location to mitigate fuel use, try to find one that is low maintenance - lock and leave if you want to travel or go hiking on the weekends, and look for something that is in a price range that makes sense for you right now - don't push your wallet - relieve it. And avoid new debts in the months preceding your mortgage loan application, like cars, furniture and big screen TV's.

Interest rates are at an all time low, the government is giving special incentives for a first-time home purchase - nirvana for homebuying. For more information on government Tax Credits, e-mail me your request.

Planning to wait? That's completely understandable. Something to consider, though: historically, when a buyer's market is in full swing, it is quickly replaced by a seller's market. The market tightens up and prices start to go up. So if you're in a position to buy, and can take advantage of good prices, good interest rates, and good government incentives, contact your Realtor and start looking today! Your agent can recommend several good lenders to get you pre-qualified and moving toward the goal of home ownership.

Can't quite qualify for a mortgage right now, or afraid of job changes of corporate "downsizing"? I do leasing! Chances are, we can find a great lease home for you until market conditions improve. Either way, I am at thy Royal service!

Hairy E-Mails

2009-03-04T21:42:00.000-08:00

Have you discovered www.hairy-mail.com yet? It's disgustingly fun! Just type in your message and a magical hand with a tube of hair remover writes it on the back of this really hairy guy...then wipes it off! Yuck!!! Your message is magically drawn (or smeared) onto the back of this apeman. The gist of the anti-smoking website appears with a tagline about the same chemicals in the hair removal being found in cigarettes. Nasty!!!