We are very excited to announce that Jessica Rumbaugh is the newest member of the Farm and Ranch division of Keller Williams Realty! Jessica has inherited generations of knowledge from a long line of farmers and ranchers in her family, and is extremely excited to carry this expertise over into the field of real estate.

Jessica says, "I was raised on a working farm and ranch. I absolutely love working in real estate, and I am so excited to be able to use my expertise to assist my clients in getting a great deal in buying or selling properties for farming, ranching, or recreation." 

In addition, she brings a wealth of knowledge for anyone looking to buy or sell various types of horse related facilities. Jessica is a multiple national and world champion in competitive equestrian events, and has traveled the country to competitions. She acknowledges, "I know that it is much easier to work with someone who understands horses, what you are looking for, and what the heck you are talking about! Sometimes it is so difficult to explain certain things to someone who has never been around horses or the horse industry. I understand, and I will make things much easier for you." 

And as a reminder, Rumbaugh Properties still works with clients interested in the sale or purchase of hunting properties. As many of you know, Ben is a Texas A&M graduate with a degree in Wildlife Ecology and Management, and brings a wealth of knowledge in terms of conservation and management practices. Jessica previously worked for one of the top whitetail outfitting services in Mexico. We are excited about Jessica's expansion into the KW Farm & Ranch division, as well as her new membership with the Realtors Land Institute, which will strengthen our hunting property/land management division, and increase the audience for future client listings. 

Congrats Jessica! We wish you the best of luck and success with your new venture, and we look forward to seeing what you can do with the KW Farm & Ranch division!



- Rumbaugh Properties

Weekly Rumbaugh Properties update!

Lots of great things going on right now at Rumbaugh Properties. The Houston TX real estate market is still really strong, and our clients' properties are moving.

Looks like the closing has been moved up on this gorgeous 8 acre property in Waller TX. We were honored to have the opportunity to help Betty Anne sell this pretty place. Take a look at some of the pictures.

Here is a view of the lot from the road:

This is a shot I took of one of the ponds in a common area/park within the subdivision of this lot. WOW!  

The property has a creek running through the middle, and tons of gorgeous old trees. I really enjoyed walking this property to take the photos and put together the custom virtual tour.

If you'd like to see the virtual tour I made, take a look here: Round Up Dr - Custom Virtual Tour

And of course, if you or anyone you know is looking for a property like this, or is interested in listing your property for sale, give me a call! 

CONTACT US!

In addition to the Waller property closing soon, we also had a BRAND NEW listing that already pending on its way to being SOLD less than ONE WEEK after it hit the market. This house is SO cool - check out this 1100 sq ft back patio. 

The property is located on a 2 acre lot and is its own private sanctuary.

With this home, the sellers were getting rid of old furniture and putting other stuff into storage to prepare to move out and build a new home. One of the complimentary services we provide happens to be staging consultations and even staging items. See the above picture of their porch? We brought those gorgeous throw pillows for a pop of color. 

For this home, we brought in EVERYTHING you see in this living room shot -- yes the couch, chairs, pillows, ottoman, even the accent picture on the wall! 

They also sold their kitchen table -- so what did we do? Bring one in of course, and yes, all the decorations on it as well.

But sometimes a space doesn't need furniture, it just needs accents to really set it off and make it look good. See how we staged this kitchen with pops of yellow that pull through from the colors we staged in the living space? 

Love that big gorgeous jar of lemons!

Now if you or someone you know is looking to sell your home...wouldn't you love for me to come in and stage and decorate it for you? And I provide that service to you FREE OF CHARGE! Just another way we do our best to go above and beyond to provide you with concierge service. :) 

Also, don't forget to check out this listing's custom virtual tour as well. (We also provide that for free!)

Take a look at it right here: Virtual Tour of 9414 Woodlane Blvd

If you would like for me to stage and list your home...or if you are looking to buy a home that looks like this one, give me a call so we can get started! You can CONTACT ME HERE!

...To be truly successful, the first thing to do is fall in love with your work.

Jessica Rumbaugh - REALTOR

Rumbaugh Properties | Keller Williams Southwest

RumbaughProperties.com

JessicaR@kw.com | (979) 541-7810

Huge congrats to Matt & Robin on their first home!!

I have to take a moment to say congrats to Matt and Robin on their ONE WEEK ANNIVERSARY of officially being homeowners! They chose an absolutely BEAUTIFUL home with an unreal backyard -- complete with a tiki bar, fire pit, and a putting green. How cool is that?!

I had an absolute blast helping them buy their first home, and I consider it an honor to have had the opportunity to help them through the process. We want to wish them many happy years in their awesome home with an epic back yard in the perfect location. Way to choose an awesome place guys!

If you are looking for your first home or are in search of the perfect place to upgrade into or downsize to, let us help you! We will search high and low until we find you the perfect home based on your dream criteria. Call us today at (979) 541-7810 or send us an email to info@rumbaughproperties.com or check us out online at www.RumbaughProperties.com

Jessica Rumbaugh - Realtor
979-541-7810 | JessicaR@kw.com
www.RumbaughProperties.com

5 Common Mistakes of First Time Homebuyers

Buying a house for the first time can be incredibly overwhelming. It is so easy to make mistakes or overlook details that could help you get a great deal on your first home.

On average, most first time homebuyers only stay in their home 4-5 years before they upgrade. When shopping for your first home, don't just make your decision based on what suits you -- example: I work a lot and don't cook very often, so I don't need a big kitchen -- because that can affect the resale value down the road. That small kitchen that you didn't necessarily mind may be a huge limiting factor when it comes time to sell and buy a larger home down the road.

I also see many home buyers become hesitant to "pull the trigger" and make an official offer on a home. Yes, it is a huge decision, but in this housing market, a good home at a good price won't say on the market for long. On that same note, it is so important to get a good agent that will walk you through the process and communicate every step of the way. Not only should that agent keep you informed throughout the process, but they should also help you put in a competitive offer on the home you choose that will be appealing to the seller so they choose your offer. 

Ask lots of questions, stay informed and educated throughout the process. Everyone you work with throughout the journey of buying a home is working for you. Don't be afraid to ask what might seem like a stupid question! 

Are you considering buying a home in the Houston area? I'd love to help!

Jessica Rumbaugh | RumbaughProperties.com - Sugar Land, TX

TITLE INSURANCE....things you didn't know...

Title insurance protects the holder from any losses sustained from defects in the title. It’s required by most mortgage lenders. 

Title insurance protects both the lender and the secondary markets that your loan is sold to - against any defects in the title to your home or property. The title insurance helps ensure that the mortgage document on your property/home is valid and enforceable. 

The amount of the policy is the same as your mortgage at the very beginning, and you will simply pay a one time fee to pay for the title insurance when you are paying for your other closing costs. Here in Texas, it is usually customary for the seller to purchase the policy on your behalf.

Here are five other things you should know about title insurance.

1. It protects your ownership right to your home, both from fraudulent claims against your ownership and from mistakes made in earlier sales, such as mistake in the spelling of a person’s name or an inaccurate description of the property.

2. It’s a one-time cost usually based on the price of the property.

3. It’s usually paid for by the sellers, although this can vary depending on your state and local customs.

4. There are both lender title policies, which protect the lender, and owner title policies, which protect you. The lender will probably require a lender policy.

5. Discounts on premiums are sometimes available if the home has been bought within only a few years since not as much work is required to check the title. Ask the title company if this discount is available.

    Reprinted from REALTOR® magazine (RealtorMag.Realtor.org) with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. 

      Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.

- Jessica Rumbaugh | RumbaughProperties.com

Buying a home? Why you should let an agent help you.

Considering buying a home? Don't go at it alone, let a real estate agent help you!

As a realtor, my job is to help you through the ins and outs of the process. I will negotiate the deal on your behalf, and will work with the listing agent, lender, inspector, appraiser, and all the other vendors involved in the process to make it smooth and painless for you.

Plus, in most circumstances, the commission is paid by the seller. So as a buyer, you are getting help from a professional licensed real estate agent for free!

Looking to buy in the Houston area?  Let me help!
- Jessica Rumbaugh | Rumbaugh Properties

3 Myths About Home Staging

I often hear comments from people about home staging, "Is it really worth the money and trouble?" or "I think the house is fine like it is." Staging is so incredibly important when selling a home.

As simple as this sounds, it is so important to declutter and depersonalize. You aren't selling the home based on why you like living in it - you are staging the home to create appeal to a wide range of people. Ideally, if the home is staged correctly, it will seem open and inviting, and people from varying backgrounds will all be able to visualize themselves and their stuff living in your home and ultimately make an offer. That is the goal, right? :) You wouldn't try to sell your car still full of your stuff with your fuzzy dice and air freshener of choice still hanging from the mirror would you? 

We also want to stage your home with style, so it really pops in pictures. Home buyers will do hours of shopping online before they ever look at any homes in person. By staging a home well, taking great pictures, and creating a gorgeous virtual tour, we will put your home at the top of the "must see" list for the internet window shoppers so they will come take a look in person when the time comes. No matter how great a home is in person, if it isn't staged well and show well in pictures on the internet, people aren't going to come and see it in person.


Take a look at this article called 3 Myths About Home Staging by Audra Slinkey. She does a great job explaining the basic importance of staging.



Are you interested in selling your home in the Houston area?  Give us a call and we will gladly get started on staging your home to maximize the audience of buyers!



- Jessica Rumbaugh | Rumbaugh Properties

You can access the original article here: 3 Myths About Home Staging

May 2014 Market Report

The Houston real estate market has continued to stay incredibly strong. This report from May 2014 from the Houston Association of Realtors shows that year over year from May 2013 to May 2014, there has been a 1.7% increase in new home listings. If you have been on the fence and have been considering selling your home, now is a hot time to list. The average list price for a single family home in May is $288,189 -- that is up 9.2% from a year ago in May of 2013!

Contact us today at RumbaughProperties.com or rumbaughproperties@gmail.com to list your home.