Category Archives: Owning a Home

Don’t forget your home warranty!

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home (3)Most buyers ask the seller to provide funds at closing to purchase a 1-year home warranty. The home warranty provides repair and replacement coverage for most of your home’s appliances and systems such as electrical and plumbing. Now that you own your home and have a home warranty don’t forget to use it! You can check online to see what’s covered if you have any problems. We’ve talked to several new home owners lately and they called a repair person before calling the home warranty company. Always call the home warranty company first to see if the problem is covered.

Several home warranty companies.

If you would like Rick and Sharon to meet with you to discuss buying or selling a home please call 361-433-0520. Or email rick@gcrtx.com or sharon@gcrtx.com. Ask about our Educator Incentive Program. Try our Property Search to find houses with up-to-date information. Like us on Facebook!

Is my house in the floodplain?

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searchFEMA has maps for you to check if your property is in a floodplain. Follow the link to City of Victoria Development Services.

Some properties that were in the floodplain have been removed due to the work by the Lone Tree Creek Channel Improvement that was completed in 2009. Use the maps as a guide but you will want to check with the City of Victoria to verify if your property is in the floodplain and requires flood insurance.

If you would like Rick and Sharon to meet with you to discuss buying or selling a home please call 361-433-0520. Or email rick@gcrtx.com or sharon@gcrtx.com. Ask about our Educator Incentive Program. Try our Property Search to find houses with up-to-date information. Like us on Facebook!

In and Around Victoria #27 – 2013 Home Product Show

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home show

The 2013 Home Product Show is this next weekend March 23 and 24 at the Victoria Community Center. The show starts Saturday, March 23 and runs from 10 AM-5 Pm and again on Sunday from 12 PM-5 PM. Tickets cost $5 for adults and $3 for students. Check out the list of vendors. You’ll find more information at the Builder Association of Victoria website.

In and Around Victoria highlights places to go, things to see, and local area restaurants. The posts are in no particular order or ranking. Let us know if you have a local area attraction that you’d like to see highlighted in the blog. Post a comment or give us a call 361-433-0520.

If you would like Rick and Sharon to meet with you to discuss buying or selling a home please call 361-433-0520. Or email rick@gcrtx.com or sharon@gcrtx.com. Ask about our Educator Incentive Program. Try our Property Search to find houses with up-to-date information. Like us on Facebook!

Mythbusters and Your Credit Score #8

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stopMyth: A collection account can only be reported to your credit once.

Busted: Once you’ve entered into debt collection, that collection can be sold many times. Each time the new creditor assumes the debt and begins the collection process it gets reported. Unpaid bills can haunt your credit score for a long time.

If you would like Rick and Sharon to meet with you to discuss buying or selling a home please call 361-433-0520. Or email rick@gcrtx.com or sharon@gcrtx.com. Ask about our Educator Incentive Program. Try our Property Search to find houses with up-to-date information. Like us on Facebook!

Mythbusters and Your Credit Score #7

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stopMyth: If you have high balances on your credit card and you pay on time it will improve your score.

Busted: High balances will hurt your score even if you pay on time. Keep your balance to no more than 30% of your credit limit.

If you would like Rick and Sharon to meet with you to discuss buying or selling a home please call 361-433-0520. Or email rick@gcrtx.com or sharon@gcrtx.com. Ask about our Educator Incentive Program. Try our Property Search to find houses with up-to-date information. Like us on Facebook!

Mythbusters and Your Credit Score #6

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stopMyth: Running your credit report will lower your credit score.

Busted: When you pull your credit report to review your credit it’s considered a ‘soft inquiry’ and it should not affect your credit score. When a lender or creditor pulls your report for the purpose of giving you a loan or extending your credit it’s considered a ‘hard inquiry’ and it can impact your credit score negatively.

If you would like Rick and Sharon to meet with you to discuss buying or selling a home please call 361-433-0520. Or email rick@gcrtx.com or sharon@gcrtx.com. Ask about our Educator Incentive Program. Try our Property Search to find houses with up-to-date information. Like us on Facebook!

Mythbusters and Your Credit Score #5

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stopMyth: All credit reports and credit scores are the same.

Busted: There are three main credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax and Transunion. Each credit report and credit score may vary. Each seek to document your credit history and reflect your credit risk.

If you would like Rick and Sharon to meet with you to discuss buying or selling a home please call 361-433-0520. Or email rick@gcrtx.com or sharon@gcrtx.com. Ask about our Educator Incentive Program. Try our Property Search to find houses with up-to-date information. Like us on Facebook!

Mythbusters and Your Credit Score #4

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stopMyth: If you only use cash that will help your credit score.

Busted: Good credit is a process of responsibly using your credit over time. You need to establish your credit history.

If you would like Rick and Sharon to meet with you to discuss buying or selling a home please call 361-433-0520. Or email rick@gcrtx.com or sharon@gcrtx.com. Ask about our Educator Incentive Program. Try our Property Search to find houses with up-to-date information. Like us on Facebook!

Mythbusters and Your Credit Score #3

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stopMyth: Credit bureaus don’t make mistakes.

Busted: 80% of credit reports contain some kind of error or mistake. That’s why it’s important to check your credit report regularly.

If you would like Rick and Sharon to meet with you to discuss buying or selling a home please call 361-433-0520. Or email rick@gcrtx.com or sharon@gcrtx.com. Ask about our Educator Incentive Program. Try our Property Search to find houses with up-to-date information. Like us on Facebook!

Mythbusters and Your Credit Score #2

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stopMyth: After you’ve paid off a past-due debt it will be taken off your credit report.

Busted: You have to wait 7 years before late payments are removed from your credit report. Bankruptcy takes 10 years.

If you would like Rick and Sharon to meet with you to discuss buying or selling a home please call 361-433-0520. Or email rick@gcrtx.com or sharon@gcrtx.com. Ask about our Educator Incentive Program. Try our Property Search to find houses with up-to-date information. Like us on Facebook!