NO - Not if you don’t know anything about the person, the policies, the beliefs, the reputation, the plans, the platform… you should NOT vote!  An uninformed voter is worse than not someone not voting since they are voting at the whim of someone else. If you cannot make an informed decision don’t let someone else decide for you. Stay home!

Should someone vote if the race is already decided for their state?

If you know enough to make an informed decision yet your state is already “decided”, should you vote? Someone told me last week that they weren’t going to vote in this year’s election because their vote really won’t count. Does it really matter?

Texans will vote (or have already voted in early voting) by majority for John McCain. Since it is given that McCain will win, should we take the time to vote? We all know that registering to vote is what causes us to be on the list for jury duty - or at least we believe that. We know that voting will require a significant amount of time standing in line, proving our identity and completing the voting process. This doesn’t take into consideration the travel time, parking situation or the people you will have to stop and talk with at the polls. I always run into people there no matter when I go!

So - is it worth it? Does it really matter?

YES!!!  But remember only informed voters are needed. Whoever wins will hopefully not only win the electoral college but will also win the popular vote. We want this county united behind our President - whoever he is. We want to move past this 2 year election advertising spectacle and stabilize the economy so we can get back to our lives and our work and our car commercials.  We are all tired of the political commercials and signs littering yards and corners.  We are tired of the “process” that has taken significantly longer than any of us wated.

So - if you are an informed voter and you haven’t voted yet - VOTE NOW!!!  Our country needs you.

Susan Hilton - Realtor & Sales Trainer for Century 21 Beal

Search the Bryan / College Station Real Estate - Homes for Sale!

View Susan Hilton’s profile

Take your pumpkin and a canned food item to the Benjamin Knox Art Center during business hours on October 28th - October 30th. The winners will be announced on October 31st at 5:30 pm during the Halloween Party.

Sounds like LOTS OF fun!

When I first read this I thought they were referring to the sprinkler systems in the yard - NO WAY! This is talking about the INTERIOR of homes! 

What did the National Association of Homebuilders (NAH) think? They were not in favor of the mandate. NAH said the additional cost and maintenance was not justified. Habitat for Humanity agreed! It is too costly!

The National Fire Protection Association sponsored a study and reported this will increase costs from $.38 to $3.66 per square foot - averaging out at $1.61 per square foot increase.  There may be some insurance discounts but not enough to cover the expense -

About the only good thing is that it is not retroactive!

Susan Hilton - Realtor & Sales Trainer for Century 21 Beal

Want to Search the Bryan/College Station Real Estate MLS? CLICK HERE!!!

View Susan Hilton’s profile

You may see the sign in my yard showing support for one candidate. You may hear me talk about who I like or who I don’t. You may hear who I think will lower taxes, protect our country, make sure my children have a country worth having but you’ll never know for sure who I voted for BUT what really matters is whether YOU choose to vote.  Will you take the time to exercise your right to vote? (Why do we say exerciese? Why don’t we say “take the time to ENJOY your right to vote?”

Just in case you don’t know when and were to early vote, take a few minutes and FIND OUT! It will only affect you for the rest of your life, and your children’s lives and your grandchildren…..

2008 Early Voting Schedule

Oct. 20 - Oct. 24 (Monday - Friday)
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Oct. 25 (Saturday)
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Oct. 26 (Sunday)
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Oct. 27 - Oct. 31 (Monday - Friday)
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM

So you’ve sold your house and now the buyers are going to do inspections. Should you worry? Do you need to do anything to get ready?
YES YES YES!

When you and a buyer come to an agreement on price and terms you want to make sure nothing goes wrong. Below are a few ideas to help make the inspection process go as smoothly as possible.

1. Pets - Make sure all animals are off property for the inspection. No inspector wants to dodge the dog or let the cat out or find the snake in the kid’s bedroom.

2. Turn on the utilities! Make sure everything is on especially if you don’t live in the property. Check the electricity, gas and water.

3. Make sure all the pilot lights are lit - water and air!

4. Light bulbs? Make sure all are working great. You don’t want the inspector to write up that you need an electrician when all you need is a light bulb.

5. Check the a/c filters & vents. Replace the a/c filter. Clean the vents. You want no dirt or dust anywhere.

6. Trim the bushes and trees away from the house. Make sure the inspector can easily get to all sides of the house. Also make sure the dirt is not too high around the slab. Pull the dirt away from the slab and the weep holes. Tree limbs should not touch the roof either.

7. Smoke detectors - replace the batteries!

8. Is anything missing? Are all the knobs on the stove and cabinets? Are the latches on the windows working? Where are the window screens? Any broken glass? Have the windows lost their seal? Fix the problems BEFORE the inspector arrives!

9. UNLOCK!  Make sure the insepctor can get to every room, garage, outbuilding, breaker box, fenced area, attic, crawl space and if you live in certain areas… basement.

10. Clean and straighten. A home that looks clean and straight will inspect much better than a dirty, cluttered home.

Yes, it takes a little effort to get everything ready before the inspector but it is MUCH cheaper in the long run!

Susan Hilton - Realtor & Sales Trainer for Century 21 Beal

Want to Search the Bryan/College Station Real Estate MLS? CLICK HERE!!!

View Susan Hilton’s profile

Rather than just drive…  I dressed in all black, got a top hat and treated them like stars. I opened the doors for them, took pictures like paparazzi, served them non alcoholic sparling grape juice in plastic flutes and let them laugh and laugh and laugh.

I was so honored my daughter wanted me to be with her and her friends. I even overheard one of the girls saying how her mom would never do something like this - and then they asked if I would drive again for Prom even if they had dates….

It was GREAT helping making a high school memory one they will remember together! THEY are special & should be treated that way.

… and, the beautiful girl in black second from the left is MINE!

College Station Real Estate - College Station Consolidated High School Homecoming 2008

Yes - someone saw it coming. The New York Times actually reported it coming back on September 30th in 1999. How many years ago is that? Maybe it was while Clinton was President, not George Bush….

In 1999 Steven Holmes from the New York Times wrote that Fannie Mae was under extreme pressure from the Clinton Administration to expand mortgage loans to low and moderate income people. In doing this “Fannie Mae is taking on significantly more risk, which may not pose any difficulties during flush economic times…. but may run into trouble in an exonomic downturn, prompting a government rescue similar to that of the savings and loan industry in the 1980’s”. 

Do you remember the 80’s when WE bailed out the savings and loan industry? Often times we forget our past, our history and with that we repeat it over and over. Bailout - something new? NO WAY! We do it over and over and over. As much as I disliked my history courses in school and as much as my husband will razz me over saying this….

Maybe we should pay more attention to our past so we do not continue to repeat it but instead make better choices for our future.

Susan Hilton - Realtor & Sales Trainer for Century 21 Beal

Want to Search the Bryan/College Station Real Estate MLS? CLICK HERE!!!

View Susan Hilton’s profile

Yes, it is within the real estate sales area of Century 21 Beal. Yes, it could be in Bryan or College Station or Caldwell or Hearne depending on which way I went to New Braunsfels. Do you know?

Be the first to post what road it is nearest to and what business or institution or home it stands in front of and be the WINNER!!! You’ll forever be known as Boxy…

Susan Hilton - Realtor & Sales Trainer for Century 21 Beal

Want to Search the Bryan/College Station MLS? CLICK HERE!!!

Monday, October 6th is the FINAL DAY to get registered to vote for this year’s presidential election (Nov. 4th).

If you DON’T KNOW if you are a registered voter, you may confirm your registration status here à Am I Registered?

If you are NOT REGISTERED, you may print out a registration form (Must be received by Monday the 6th) here.à Sign Me Up!

And if you ARE REGISTERED, but don’t know your assigned polling place (where you go to vote), click here à Where Do I Go To Vote?

VOTE EARLY, AND VOTE OFTEN

Susan Hilton - Realtor & Sales Trainer for Century 21 Beal

Want to Search the Bryan/College Station MLS? CLICK HERE!!!

NO MAKEUP DAY is needed to replace the Hurrican Ike Day!

Hurricane Ike College Station

Susan Hilton - Realtor & Sales Trainer for Century 21 Beal

Want to Search the Bryan/College Station MLS? CLICK HERE!!!

View Susan Hilton’s profile