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Just as every corner of the U.S. boasts its distinct charm, it also presents a unique set of challenges for potential homeowners. Whether you’re eyeing a home off the warm shores of Orlando, Florida, and the potential of underlying damage from hurricane seasons, or setting your sights in a picturesque house in Katy, Texas, where foundational concerns often take the spotlight, being well-prepared is paramount. 

Navigating the realm of home buying can be both exciting and daunting, especially when it comes to the Lone Star State. Before taking the plunge into homeownership, one essential step that can’t be overlooked is a comprehensive home inspection. Consulting with seasoned professionals who are well-versed in the region’s nuances is key to understanding the potential pitfalls that may lie ahead. In Texas, a state known for its diverse geography and climate, home inspectors have encountered a range of issues that warrant careful consideration. In this Redfin article, we delve into some crucial tips and aspects to watch out for when it comes to a home inspection in the vast expanse of Texas. From foundation worries to pest problems, here are five things to look out for to help you  safeguard your investment in the Lone Star State.

1. Cracking soil

“Cracking soil is a big problem in the Summer because the dry environment is impacting foundations. The expansive soils along the coastal region can expand and contract as much as 10%. That may not seem like much until you look at the entire footprint of the house: 10% can cause soil separation and structural damage,” warns Grace Home Inspection Services

“However, don’t start by calling a foundation repair contractor. The first thing you should do is carefully water your foundation. Many of the problems may be eliminated by this alone. After the return of rain and the saturating of the parched soils, you may find it worthwhile to continue watering while monitoring your foundation and the house for changes.”

Courtesy of Grace Home Inspection Services

2. Mold and rot 

“The most, or rather the easiest thing, is to just use your nose. Things like wood rot have a very distinctive smell, and mold also has a very distinctive smell. Once you know those smells, you can identify wood rot the moment you put your head in a crawlspace. It’s at that moment you just have to figure out where it is,” says Advanced Home Inspections. “Additionally, the most common place where we find water damage is where decks are attached to the house. So, it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on that area, knowing that it’s a potential failure point.”

3. Weather changes and pest problems

“Weather conditions like hurricanes and flooding directly impact our region. Coastal homes face higher risks due to their proximity to the coast. We inspect for signs of previous flooding and assess wind-rated certifications in certain counties,” shares Before You Buy Inspection Services.

“Periodic flooding is a reality we deal with. While most flooded homes are properly restored, it’s worth noting that some opportunistic and less reputable companies tend to surface after natural disasters, providing subpar quality in their repairs.

Pest infestations and termite damage, prevalent in our Gulf Coast area as well, warrant specialized inspections. Leaks and indications of insects should be addressed.”

Courtesy of Before You Buy Inspection Services

4. Foundation issues

“Living in the Gulf Coast Area of Texas comes with its own set of challenges, and among them, foundation problems and termite infestations stand out. Our unique soil and climate conditions create an environment that’s conducive to the development of these issues,” notes AM Solutions LLC.

“One unmistakable sign of potential foundation problems is the separation along the brick veneer expansion joint. Similarly, a termite tube—typically found on the foundation grade beam—serves as an indicator of potential termite infestation. These signs are crucial and require further evaluation by either a Licensed Structural Engineer or a Licensed Pest Operator before making any purchasing decisions.”

Courtesy of AM Solutions LLC

5. Identifying water damage

“Given the high humidity levels, floods, and occasional severe freezes such as those experienced in February 2021 that led to burst pipes, being aware of mold damage is of utmost importance, often remaining concealed,” recommends Dunn Inspection Services.

“Our examination includes an assessment of the exterior foundation. If the footing is low or the soil is high, and if the grade exceeds the siding or bricks, there’s a strong likelihood that mold is present within the structure. Additionally, termite damage is highly probable in such cases. In older homes, deteriorated moisture barriers in perimeter walls are common. We meticulously search for indicators like texture alterations, warped molding, and water stains on interior walls.

Modern residences with energy-efficient systems, such as sprayed insulation in attics and high-efficiency HVAC systems, can inadvertently foster conditions conducive to mold growth. I pay close attention to elevated humidity levels in these conditioned attic spaces and watch for telltale signs, like components of the HVAC system or ductwork showing rust. Inspect furnace filters closely and check the interior of the return for any signs of water marks or stains.

Always bear in mind that mold spores are both invisible and potentially toxic. While inspecting the property, rely on your sense of smell. Is there a musty odor? Do you notice an excessive number of air fresheners?

For peace of mind and to safeguard your family’s health, the wisest course of action is to engage a licensed and qualified consultant to conduct air quality testing for hidden mold before making a purchase.”

Courtesy of Dunn Inspection Services

Source: redfin.com

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The New Year is bringing sweeping changes to the mortgage industry.

In just a few days, the Ability to Repay and Qualified Mortgage rules drafted under the Dodd-Frank Act will finally go into effect.

As a result, many mortgage lenders will cease to offer loans that fall outside those rather broad definitions, seeing that such loans might be considered “toxic” going forward.

This means most banks will no longer pitch interest-only home loans, negative amortization loans, balloon mortgages, 40-year mortgages, or loans with DTI ratios above 43%.

Assuming they do continue to offer such loans, they’ll likely have to keep the loans on their own books, and they won’t receive safe harbor in the event of a borrower lawsuit.

You Can Still Get an Interest-Only Home Loan

Still, that hasn’t stopped at least one large bank from pledging to offer non-qualified mortgages.

This morning, Bank of the West announced that it would continue to offer interest-only mortgages, which don’t comply with the Qualified Mortgage rule.

The company said it reviewed the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rules “extensively” and found them consistent with how it has always approached mortgage underwriting.

Bank of the West believes a well-underwritten interest-only loan may still be a good choice for a borrower, and one that will be safe to hold on the company’s balance sheet.

They added that they’ve been offered for years, and that they meet the needs of certain customers, including the self-employed and those who wish to maximize cash flow.

Though such loans don’t meet the Qualified Mortgage standard, they must satisfy the Ability to Repay rule, meaning Bank of the West will need to ensure the borrower can make monthly payments once the loan adjusts.

Typically, interest-only loans have a 10-year IO period, after which the loan is recast to be paid off during the remaining 20 years of the 30-year term.

This reset can result in substantial payment shock for a homeowner, which explains why the CFPB kept the loans outside the QM definition.

At the same time, these loans don’t build equity directly, and instead rely on home price appreciation to improve a homeowner’s position.

This pretty much sums up why the CFPB doesn’t want banks to offer the loans on a wide-scale basis, seeing that home prices will likely take a dive in the future after the ongoing boom cools once more.

My expectation is that more and more banks will begin offering non-QM loans once the dust settles, though borrowers will be held to the highest standard if they want to obtain such a loan.

After all, banks will actually keep these loans, so they’ll want to know they’re of the utmost quality.

Source: thetruthaboutmortgage.com

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Wells Fargo announced today that its home loan modification program will be available for 478,000 Wachovia customers acquired via the merger completed earlier this month.

That includes scores of borrowers trapped in nasty Wachovia Pick-a-Payment loans, the high-risk loans that sunk the too-big-to-fail banking giant months earlier.

Customers on the verge of foreclosure or currently in foreclosure will receive an extension until February 28 so they have more time to explore possible alternatives.

“As the ‘investor’ for these loans, we are rapidly designing programs to help these customers,” said Mike Heid, co-president of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, in a release.

“For those at-risk, we will offer combinations of term extensions of up to 40 years, interest rate reductions, charge no interest on a portion of the principal for some period of time and, in geographies with substantial property value declines, we will even use permanent principal reductions.”

He added that the general goal is to get at-risk borrowers near a 38 percent housing payment debt-to-income ratio.

The San Francisco, CA-based bank and mortgage lender has increased its full-time default/home retention staff 125 percent in the past two years, while Wachovia has increased similar positions by 330 percent in the last year alone.

Wells Fargo inherited roughly $120 billion in new mortgages when it agreed to acquire Wachovia last year, many of which are now deemed extremely toxic, putting the company’s relatively conservative position into question.

However, Heid boasted that 93 of every 100 Wells Fargo mortgage customers are current on their mortgage payments, performance well above the industry average.

Source: thetruthaboutmortgage.com

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Recently, I scrolled through an interesting thread. Someone asked, “What are examples of toxic femininity?” Women and men answered to deliver this authentic list of responses.

1. Shaming C-Section Moms

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

One person answered, “Mothers shaming C-Section moms when saying they didn’t give birth because the doctor removed the child surgically.” Another asked, “What are we supposed to tell them? You were from your mother’s womb untimely ripped?”

A third person questioned, “This is a thing? They realize that many women and babies would die without C-sections, right? Imagine being so insecure that you must put others down for how they gave birth.”

2. Mothers Shaming Women Without Children

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

“Mothers who tell women without kids that their life is meaningless and they can’t understand true love,” someone responded.” Another said, “It sounds like – I can’t imagine not being a mother! It’s the most rewarding, amazing, humbling thing I have ever done! I wouldn’t give this up for a six-figure salary with a month’s paid vacation!”

3. Seeing Women as Competition and Tearing Them Down

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

“Putting other women down, period. It’s so much worse when they pretend to be friends with these people and then talk trash about them the moment they leave,” someone volunteered.

“Also, comparing women to other women,” another shared.” My mother always did this to me, saying, ‘Why can’t you be more social like your cousin’ etc. Ruined my self-esteem for life, and I have a big issue with uncontrollable envy.”

4. Formula Shaming

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

A father shared, “My wife could not produce enough milk for our children. When our first was born, she tried and tried. I woke up in the middle of the night to her crying. She felt like a horrible mom, even for bringing up the formula.”

“There is so much pressure on moms, and it is stupid. Our kids are very well-adjusted and were on the formula the entire time. I tell anyone expecting their first that the only right way is the right way for that child. Forget everyone else’s opinions; do what is best for your family, not the mommy bloggers.”

5. Denying Women Can Be The Abusers

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

“Thinking women cannot be perpetrators of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and rape,” one said. “The female abusers have mastered the victim card and gaslighting; their primary defenses when challenged on their abusive behavior.”

“Also, if you’re a woman abused by another woman, it’s even more frustrating cause people assume because we’re the same gender, we must be able to work it out. Like what? Let me count the reasons I never want to see this ABUSER again,” another shared.

6. Using Traditional Roles for Convenience

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

“Women that only want traditional values when it benefits them. I.e., men should be doing the cooking and the cleaning equally, but trash duty and yard work are the man’s job,” stated one.

Another stated, “My sister-in-law stays at home, not working, no kids. Refuses to do any housework until my (working) brother is there, as they should share the cleaning 50/50!”

7. That Single Women Should Be Sad

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

“Right?” One questioned, “If you can’t live with yourself and be happily single, why would you expect somebody else to put up with you? Too many relationships explode because one or both people are dumb enough to expect another to compensate for issues they can’t even sort out on their own.”

8. Equality for Who Benefits Most

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

“Wanting to be treated equally only in certain situations, depending on who benefits most from it,” one said. “You can’t pick and choose like that. We should all be treated all the time equally, in every aspect. “This! It’s extremely frustrating because it undermines attempts at equality,” another agreed.

9. Throwing Women Under The Bus for a Man

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

“Women who throw other women under the bus for a man or the attention of a man,” one stated. Another said, “Male validation is one hell of a drug. ‘Pick me’ women are the worst. Trying so hard to be the cool girl who is not like other women as if that will save her bodily autonomy.”

10. Anything Multi-Level-Marketing (MLM)

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

“Any MLM scam,” shared one. “You are so pretty just need to use my product for blah blah blah, and then they steal your money!” Another said, “I swear it’s so shady of them! It honestly hurts. I know I am not pretty or attractive by your definition, but please stop commenting on things I should do to look better.”

Piggybacking off this, another said, “Hey girl, I noticed you were overweight. Wanna try some of my overpriced and underregulated products that’ll do nothing? They’re so insensitive too.”

11. Mom Groups for Medical Advice

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

“Mom groups constantly supporting weird things like chiropractors and essential oils and speak that fake, ‘You got this mama’ type camaraderie. Another shared, “I kid you not. I’ve seen posts about ‘My baby is dealing with x, y, and z, and the doctor said it’s x, and I think I need a second opinion.’

“And there’s always that one mom saying, ‘My baby goes to the chiro over in X town and gets his neck cracked weekly. No more x, y, and z!’ Give me a break.”

12. Judging Women for Not Being Their Standard of Heels and Makeup

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

“Judging other women for not wanting to wear heels. It’s a freaking spike attached to the bottom of your foot!!! Why is this still a thing expected to look professional or classy? I’m convinced most of the pressure comes from other women,” someone confessed. 

“Same with makeup,” another asked, “What is wrong with not wanting to spend two hours every morning painting your face?” A third added, “And the women who will shame others for liking makeup and heels fall under the definition of toxic too.”

Source: Reddit.

10 Crazy Good Movies Where Women Are the Bad Guys

Image Credit: Lionsgate

Are you looking for a movie night with a twist? Look no further than these Reddit-voted top ten films where women take on the destructive bad guy role.

10 Crazy Good Movies Where Women Are the Bad Guys

10 of the Worst TV Series Ever According to the Internet

There’s Seinfeld, The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, The Office, and other legendary shows. But have you considered that for each show that garners universal critical acclaim, there is an inverse show lurking on the other end of the IMDb rating scale?

10 of the Worst TV Series Ever According to the Internet

15 Cover Songs that are Better than the Original

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Sometimes, a cover of a song ends up doing far better than the original. Some covers are so good that we didn’t even realize the cover version wasn’t actually the original.

15 Cover Songs that are Better than the Original

These 11 Movies Are So Bad You’ll Wish You Could Unsee Them

Photo Credit: Lightstorm Entertainment / TSG Entertainment II

The movies we love best are a combination of excellent characters, plots, stories and cinematography. But if these factors can make great movies, they can also make terrible movies—the ones that make people cringe, the ones we swear they’ll never watch again.

These 11 Movies Are So Bad You’ll Wish You Could Unsee Them

10 Celebrities Who Are Universally Disliked

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People will always have preferences and something to say about celebrities. What you might love may not be the same for others. Whether it’s about their past behaviors, legal issues, or feuds with other celebrities, here is a list of celebrities people just cannot stand.

10 Celebrities Who Are Universally Disliked



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Source: financequickfix.com

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It wasn’t long ago that real estate was deemed toxic, untouchable, whatever bad thing you want to call it.

But times have changed, thanks to low interest rates and massive price cuts. And one group seems to be taking advantage, namely, the Millennials.

If you’re not familiar, they are a group of youngsters born between 1980 and 1995, who also go by the name “Generation Y” and “Generation Next.”

Interestingly, it is this group that purchased the most real estate between July 2012 and June 2013, according to the 2014 NAR Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends study released today.

Gen Y = Largest Share of Recent Home Buyers

Millennials don’t just text, play around on Twitter, and create cool Tumblr blogs. They also make money and buy things.

In fact, the group accounted for 31% of recent residential real estate purchases, leading all other generational groups.

At the same time, Generation Next had the smallest share of home sellers at just 12%, which makes sense given the young age.

The median age of a Millennial home buyer was 29 and median income was $73,600. An overwhelming 75% were first-home home buyers.

They were most likely to buy a property in an urban or central city area and stay in their homes for 10 years.

Interestingly, they purchase homes primarily for the “desire to own” a home, not to get rich.

In the home buying department, they were followed very closely by Gen X, which includes individuals born between 1965 and 1979.

For the record, I am part of Gen X, though just barely seeing that I was born in the summer of 1979.  My group accounted for 30% of recent home purchases and the largest share of home sellers at 29%.

I’m assuming there was a lot of buying and selling in my generation because there were those that bought early and are now unloading, perhaps because of newly gained home equity.

Though 19% indicated that they had to pump the brakes on a home sale because of equity constraints.

Then there are those that did not buy during the boom, and wanted in after prices and rates tumbled. Fortunately for this latter group, they probably have good jobs, plenty of assets, and decent credit.

Gen X buyers plan to stay in their current homes for 15 years, and are most likely to think their home is a good financial investment (87%).

Boomers Aren’t Booming Anymore

The other generations in the study included Younger Boomers (1955-1964), Older Boomers (1946-54), and the so-called Silent Generation, those born between 1925 and 1945.

All three groups were relatively quiet on the home buying front, with 16% of recent home purchases coming from Younger Boomers, 14% from Older Boomers, and just nine percent from the Silent Generation.

This all makes sense, given the fact that most from these generations are already established and in homes they purchased years ago.

Most from these groups, along with Gen Xers, bought homes in suburban areas, as opposed to the city.

And roughly a quarter of both sets of Boomers own more than one home, including an investment property and/or vacation home.

Almost nine out of 10 buyers used a mortgage to purchase their home, and the all-cash share increased with age, as expected.

(photo: Jhaymesisviphotography)

Source: thetruthaboutmortgage.com

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Renters are accusing Invitation Homes Inc., an investment firm that owns the most single-family homes in the U.S., of not properly maintaining their properties.

The allegations came via a Reuters investigative report, and pertain to problems such as insect infestations, unfixed water leaks, toxic mold, broken appliances and even raw sewage seeping into crawl spaces.

Renters told Reuters they’ve filed numerous complaints to Invitation Homes, which is owned by the private equity giant Blackstone Group. However those requests have been largely ignored. In one complaint, a renter told Reuters that they’d complained to the company of an infestation of black widow spiders as well as water leaks in the property, only to find that the matter was not handled in a timely fashion. As a result, the situation actually got worse, with roaches and ants also infesting the property.

Invitation Homes responded to Reuters by saying it offered the tenants $887.30 to cover maintenance and utility billing issues caused by a plumbing leak, in addition to two week’s rent. The black widow spider infestation was referred to as a “housekeeping issue”.

Besides the infestations and leaks, several tenants have also complained of “excessive rent increases and fees”, which add up to hundreds of dollars a year in extra costs. The issue prompted several tenants of the compant to file a class-action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for Northern California, in which Invitation Homes is accused of “fee stacking”. The litigants claim that Invitation Homes charges them $95 if their rent is just one minute late – even if the delay is the fault of the company due to problems with its payment portal. As well as the fine, Invitation Homes also files an eviction notices, and threatens more fees, penalties and legals costs if they wish to remain in the property.

Invitation Homes on July 20 filed a motion to dismiss the case against it, saying the complainants failed to prove its fees are “unfair”.

Blackstone is one of the leading single-family home rental companies in the U.S. Through Invitation Homes, it snapped up thousands of low costs properties that had been foreclosed on during the last recession, before doing them up and offering them as rentals. Invitation Homes reportedly manages 82,000 homes in the U.S., including thousands of three and four bedroom entry-level homes in 17 metros areas across the Sun Belt.

But real estate experts told Reuters that Invitation Homes may have overstretched its push into the rental market, as the growing number of complaints suggests it cannot maintain its enormous portfolio of homes.

In response, Invitation Homes says it’s committed to operating in accordance with federal, state and local housing laws.

The company’s chief operating officer Charles Young insisted that it does not skimp on repairs or maintenance costs, telling Reuters: “We ultimately are trying to do the right thing by our communities and for our residents to provide the service we can live up to.”

Young also claimed the company’s investments in renovations and property upkeep have helped foreclosure-ravaged neighborhoods to recover since the Great Recession. He also notes that 70 percent of its tenants renew their leases.

Mike Wheatley is the senior editor at Realty Biz News. Got a real estate related news article you wish to share, contact Mike at [email protected].
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Source: realtybiznews.com

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If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, SheKnows may receive an affiliate commission.

Is there anything more exciting than cruising the clearance aisle at Target? The answer is yes: shopping stuff from Joanna Gaines’ Hearth & Home with Magnolia line in the clearance aisle! Some of the star’s most popular wares have been marked down to as low as $5 on Target’s website, and they include all the materials and textures we live for. 

Our six top picks embody the best this line has to offer: stoneware and acacia wood kitchen items, cotton pillows, copper accessories and even faux foliage to liven up every room, for instance. Go ahead and invite some elevated farmhouse flare into your home this fall — all on a budget.

Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Target is a SheKnows sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

A Cozy Cotton Pillow with a Distressed Finish

Target

A mottled texture helps give the colors on this 18″x18″ Vertical Texture Stripe Square Throw Pillow a lived-in look straight out of the box. Its cotton cover is certified free of toxins and comes off so you can pop it in the wash.

Vertical Texture Stripe Square Throw Pillow

$16.99 $19.99 15% Off

Copper Lanterns to Flank the Fireplace

Target

Give the fireplace a rustic glow or create a candlelit scene throughout the room: these Copper Lanterns will do the trick. Aside from being cute as heck, they’re a cinch to carry, and switching out the candles is quick and easy. 

Raised Metal & Glass Pillar Candle Lantern Copper

$Starting at $25.49 $29.99 15% Off

A Rich Wooden Stand to Elevate Your Cake

Target

Let’s add one more rustic material to this Hearth & Hand with Magnolia lineup: the beautifully sustainable acacia wood. That’s what gives this 13-inch Cake Stand its deliciously grainy appeal. “Looks beautiful on my credenza, some led candles on top of it with a some greenery,”wrote a creative shopper.

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11″ Wooden Cake Stand

$16.99 $19.99 15% Off

A Rustic Creamer That’s Too Cute

Target

Ah, stoneware — the table-setting material that brings a kitchen from good to great. This Stoneware Cream Cellar is adorable to break out while entertaining or just  enjoying your morning coffee, and it’s dishwasher and microwave-safe. 

Stoneware Cream Cellar

$5 $6 17% Off

Something Soothing to Wrap Yourself Up In

Target

There’s something so satisfying about curling up with a good book and a comfy throw. The lightweight, yellow and white Block Plaid Woven Throw Blanket is made of non-toxic fabric that’s also machine washable.

Stitched Block Plaid Woven Throw Blanket

$25.49 $29.99 15% Off

A Leafy Wreath for a Warm Welcome

Target

This Faux Seeded Eucalyptus with Berry Wreath is the epitome of fall beauty. Give it pride of place on your front door, then forget about it: the beauty of faux foliage. “It actually exceeded my expectations. It take all of 5 minutes to fluff and I’m impressed by how full it looks,” wrote a five-star reveiwer.

Faux Seeded Eucalyptus with Berry Wreath

$29.74 $34.99 15% Off

Source: sheknows.com