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Produced ByAdvertising Editorial Staff

lubbockonline.com homes.lubbockonline.com LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

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AUGUST 25, 2012

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The South Plain’s #1 Real Estate Source ● Visit our mobile site @ m.homes.lubbockonline.com

How long have you worked in real estate?

I have been in real estate for 12 years. Oscar Armen-dariz has been with me for 10 years. My first year in business, I was awarded the “Rookie of the Year.” Since then, I have consistently been in the International Coldwell Banker President’s Elite and President’s Circle which represents the top 5 percent of Coldwell Banker agents nationwide.

What did you do before real estate?

My journey to this point is very interesting. In the early ‘90s, I decided to go back to Texas Tech to get my undergraduate degree. I am very proud that I graduated from Texas Tech University in 1994! After graduation, I started working on a part-time basis at National Travel Systems. While there, I was approached by a committee with the Franklin Graham Festival asking me if I would consider being the office man-ager for an office that would handle the year-long work it takes to put on such a festi-val. It was during that time that I met Rick Canup, who was serving as the Executive Director of the Festival. The rest is history! I hired Oscar

two years after I was in the business. He got his license soon after and has been an integral part of the Medina Team since then.

What is your specialty? We specialize in represent-

ing buyers and sellers of residential properties. Our main emphasis is listing homes. We take an aggres-sive approach to get homes sold. We specialize in helping those that need to sell before they buy. Although that is our main focus, we do love work-ing with buyers, too. Another aspect of our business that has really grown is with the investor client. With a stable market and increasing home prices, the Lubbock real estate market can be a very profitable investment with the right guidance.

What designations do you have and what does that mean for the people you work with?

I realize that we proudly attach those abbreviations to our business cards and few know what they mean! I am proud to have my GRI (Graduate REALTOR Insti-tute) and my ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative) des-ignations, as well as several other certifications: Certified

Home Marketing Specialist, NAHREP (National Associa-tion of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals) certification, Certified Negotiation Special-ist, Certified Relocation Agent and Texas Affordable Housing Specialist. I continue to be very willing and eager to

learn so that I can in turn be the best, most educated Real-tor for my client!

What is the most challeng-ing/gratifying aspect of what you do?

The most challenging part of my job is putting all of the

pieces of the puzzle together. In any real estate transac-tion, there are many parties involved; including the lender, home inspector, insurance provider, appraiser, surveyor, etc. The most gratifying part of my job is seeing the happy hearts and smiling faces of the parties when everything comes together and the puzzle is complete!

What is one tip you have for someone looking to buy or sell a home?

Work with an agent you can trust; don’t go at it alone! Remember that puzzle? Well, so many things can go wrong with those pieces of the puzzle. We have the experi-ence to help you every step of the way no matter if you are buying or selling. We are always looking out for your best interest.

What do you see in the fu-ture for real estate sales?

I see great things in Lub-bock’s real estate future! We are blessed to live in a com-munity that presents all the right factors for an expanding economy: growing universi-ties – Texas Tech University, LCU, Wayland and South Plains; medical facilities that bring in the best and bright-est; LEDA, who is actively bringing successful compa-nies to the Lubbock area; a growing population; and great, competitive local mort-gage lenders. This translates to good years ahead!

Velma Medina ColDwell BAnkeR RiCk CAnUp, ReAlToRS 806-535-7653vmedina@coldwellbanker.com

Realtor Revealed

Velma Medina & Oscar Armendariz, Coldwell Banker Rick Canup, Realtors Photo by Misty Setzler

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2 SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 2012 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL homes.lubbockonline.com

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ReAl eSTATe SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 2012 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL 3homes.lubbockonline.com

Million Dollar Homes

Homes.LubbockonLine.com’s Picks of tHe Week

This week’s featured picksfrom homes.lubbockonline.comare homes priced at $1 millionand higher. All are located in theLubbock area and vary in size andstyle.

1. Our first pick is located at15806 Slide Road and is pricedat $1,195,000. Featuring fourbedrooms, four full baths, andtwo half baths, this 8,702 squarefoot home is just made for a fam-ily – there is space for everyone!Features include a large laundry,a catering kitchen, a wonderfulbasement/theatre room, and anoffice. The third floor room is atremendous 33x21. There is alsoan 800’ “man cave” which opens toan infinity pool, as well as a 2,400’workshop with overhead doors.This home is a must see – trulyone of a kind!MLS # 9981086

2. Located at 4703 111th Drive,this home is priced at $1,100,000.This 4,678 square foot Dan WilsonCustom Built Home is in TheFalls and features two living

areas, two dining areas, four fire-places, a media room, a study, abuilt-in salt water aquarium, a koipond, custom chiseled travertinefloors, dark wood floors, an out-door kitchen, and extra land withroom for a garden and a pool. Thefourth bedroom in this home isseparated from the main house soit could be used as mother-in-lawquarters or staff quarters. Thisbeautiful home has a gated entryto the driveway. MLS# 9980884

3. At 8,893 square feet, thishome at 2208 Wayne Avenue isabsolutely amazing. It includessix bedrooms, eight full baths,and three half baths. The newly-remodeled kitchen has granitecountertops and new appliances.The lush, heavily landscapedbackyard will make you feel likeyou’re on vacation! Enjoy thenewly-remodeled pool and hottub, as well as the pool cabanawith new kitchen appliances and1.5 baths. Additional features in-clude multiple living areas, mar-ble floors in main entry/diningroom, fish pond with bridge, an

electric gate to the backyard, andabundant storage throughout.This gem is priced at $1,649,000.MLS# 9983254

4. Looking for a West Texasretreat that’s the perfect spot toenjoy a sunset? Look no furtherthan this home at 8818 CountyRoad 6860. Priced at $1,398,989,this exquisite custom home fea-tures five bedrooms, six baths, anda four-car garage. Resting in anexclusive and private neighbor-hood, the home includes an 1,100square foot office/in-law suite withcomplete kitchen. All aspects ofthis home were well thought outfor living comfortably and allow-ing for great entertaining bothinside and out. MLS# 9984307

5. This home at 4004 109thStreet showcases exceptionalbeauty and elegance by RobertWood. Priced at $1,395,000, thehome has four bedrooms, fivebathrooms, and 5,940 squarefeet. This custom home featuresattention to the highest standardand detail. Highlights include an

outstanding in-ground pool withthree water features, an outdoorliving space with fireplace, anopen kitchen with top-of-the-lineappliances, an upstairs livingarea, exercise room in the base-ment, a wine room with winerefrigerator, and a durable metalroof – all in a beautiful neighbor-hood! MLS# 9988716

6. Our final home is anotheramazing custom built home withquality and beauty throughout!Located at 4703 116th Street, this5,377 square foot home includes:wood paneled office and woodfloors, granite and Terrazzo floors,marble countertops, a mastersuite with his and her separatebathrooms, a mother-in-law suite,a beautiful pool and fountain,an outdoor kitchen, fireplace,and side courtyard. The price is$1,225,000. MLS# 9986512

For more information andadditional pictures of these andother homes, please go to homes.lubbockonline.com and enter inthe MLS# provided.

Go online& view

hundreds oflistings in theLubbock area,

read homeimprovementarticles, realestate tips, &local news.

homes.lubbockonline.com“Your best source for housing

in the lubbock area”

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Real estate4 SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 2012 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL lubbockonline.com

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(ARA) – If you’re on hold in the real estate market, now is the time to get your house in order – literally. Make the right changes today, and you’ll get a better price tomorrow.

But before you invest in a home-improvement project, consider your potential buyers with this fact in mind: More than 3.5 million baby boomers turn 55 each year, according to the 2010 U.S. Census. Since people aged 45 to 64 make up more than a quarter of today’s U.S. population, there’s a good chance you’ll be selling to someone in this age group. Will your home appeal to them?

Your chances will be better if your home has “aging in place” design features that make it easier for older adults to live on their own longer. These modifications are the fastest-growing segment of the home remodeling industry, says the National Association of Home Build-ers. Because they range from simple fixes to full-scale renovations, making aging-in-place changes can suit any budget.

Best of all, this type of project not only improves a home’s resale value for the future, it also increases its safety and comfort for all residents right now.

Add A BAth Where NoNe exists

Adding a bathroom on the main liv-ing level is a smart strategy to appeal to older adults, says national home safety expert Meri-K Appy. “Falls are the leading cause of home injury deaths, and older adults are at great-est risk for them,” she says. “Eliminat-ing the need to use stairs and reduc-ing the distance to a bathroom can be a great safety advantage.”

A new bath is also a sound invest-ment. This one improvement was shown to return more than 53 percent of its cost at resale in the 2010-2011 Remodeling Magazine Cost vs. Value Report.

A macerating toilet system is a good way to lower the cost of adding a bath, says Otis Dardy, owner of Dardy Construction in Conyers, Ga. Dardy recently used macerating, or up flush, technology to install a full bathroom in a home that lacked below-floor plumbing drainage. With conventional plumbing fixtures, Dardy would have had to dig through the concrete, creat-ing a costly and time-consuming mess.

Instead, he used Saniflo up flush technology, which allows you to add plumbing to any room in your home, even the basement, without having to break up the floor.

Macerating plumbing systems pump waste and water from a toilet - as well as a sink, shower, wet bar, even a washing machine - upward through small diameter piping.

Before Dardy knew about macerat-ing plumbing systems, many of his customers who wanted a bathroom couldn’t afford the cost of creating new drainage. “I can save them a ton of money now,” he says. “It will also work if you want to convert a walk-in closet into a powder room.”

Looking for more ways to update a bathroom with aging adults in mind? Put a telephone line in the bathroom. You may also want to install grab bars in and near tubs and showers while adding a hand-held showerhead. It not only makes bathing easier, but it also helps when it’s time to wash a pet or clean the tub. Use low, open shelv-ing, and place nightlights in hallways and bathrooms to improve illumina-tion and reduce falls.

UNiversAl improvemeNts

If you’re doing a kitchen remodel, consider using nonslip flooring. Some designers recommend cork tiles, which have the added advantage of being environmentally friendly. And to make your kitchen workspace more user-friendly, vary the height of your countertop areas to accommodate both standing and seated cooks, and don’t forget to install bright task lighting. Always choose appliances with con-trols that are easy to read and easy to use. Push/pull levers are a must for kitchen faucets, and installing ther-mostatic and anti-scald devices can reduce hot-water burn injuries.

If you’re replacing windows, make sure the hardware is easy to operate. Installing a new entry door? Choose a low-maintenance alternative to wood. All stairways inside and out should have two handrails and bright over-head lighting.

Less-expensive improvements include replacing doorknobs with handles that are easier to open and putting D-shaped pulls on drawers and cabinets. Replace any dim bulbs with bright overhead lighting.

Remodeling for aging in place today will help sell your home tomorrow

(ARA) – Longing to update your home, but short on time and money? You’re not alone. Remodeling experts report that whole-house remodels have declined in recent years – but don’t throw in the towel just yet. Instead of focusing on every room – focus on smaller areas where you spend a lot of time, like the bathroom.

“Bathroom renovations are one of the most popular projects with homeowners, but not everyone has the same needs or budget,” says renowned home improve-ment expert Danny Lipford. “Luckily, cosmetic updates can be quick, inexpensive and easy enough for anyone to do.”

With a few days and minimal budget, you can give your bathroom an instant facelift that will be fashion-able and functional.

1. Start your bathroom update with a good cleaning. Removing any mildew, dust and soap scum is the first step to a brighter bath.

2. Color can affect our mood – so add a splash of paint. For only the cost of a brush, roller, tape and a gallon of paint (less than $40), both your bathroom walls and your mood will feel refreshed.

3. Did you know that within a year, the average per-son washes their hands 8,776 times? And that doesn’t account for the time spent brushing your teeth or washing your face. With these many interactions with water, be sure that your bathroom remodel includes a stylish new faucet.

4. Not sure if your current cabinets or vanity are fashionable enough for your new faucet? Before you replace it, consider adding new cabinet hardware for an instant update. There are a wide variety of choices – and manufacturers, such as Moen, even offer knobs and pulls that perfectly match your faucet in both design and finish.

5. The average person takes 365 showers per year. If your shower space is feeling a bit small, add 7½ inches in an instant with a curved shower rod. Both single and double curved shower rods are available in the most popular finishes to maximize your bathroom shower space with ultimate style.

6. Likely you share your bath with others. Bathroom accessories are a simple and inexpensive (less than $150 for a set) way to add organization and a design update to your bath. Collections offer a variety of solu-tions such as towel bars, towel rings and robe hooks to keep items tidy and off the floor, as well as pivot-ing paper holders to entice users to change the empty roll. Plus, they are available in a variety of finishes to perfectly coordinate with the rest of your new bath hardware.

7. The final step of your simple and sensational bath upgrade is the soft touches. Add plush and colorful towels to your new accessories, a decorative shower curtain to your new shower rod and a soft throw rug in front of the vanity.

Soon, with minimal budget and effort, your bath-room will be more enjoyable – with an attractive look you’ll love and your guests will envy.

Fast, functional and fabulous bathroom fixes for less than $500

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ReAl eSTATe SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 2012 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL 5homes.lubbockonline.com

Think back to when you were a first-time homebuyer. Were you excited but overwhelmed? It’s not unusual to feel that way as a first-time seller either, and it’s just as involved of a process – if not more so. But know-ing what you can expect can make the selling process go smoothly. Here are five ways you can be a smart first-

time seller.

Is It tIme to DIY?While it may sound appealing

to try to sell your home on your own, keep in mind the challenges you could face if you’re not a real estate expert. Hiring a Lubbock REALTOR® can save you time, reduce hassles and will help you avoid the legal risks that come with selling property. Pricing your home is easier when you have a Lubbock REALTOR® who can provide you with information on comparable property prices and current market conditions. Asking too little for your home is a costly mistake, but pricing it too high can cause your property to lan-guish and ultimately sell for less

than it might have had it been priced right.

tImIng Is everYthIng

Selling a home often involves buying one, too. As a first-time seller, understand that timing your sale and your new purchase can be tricky. Your Lubbock RE-ALTOR® can walk you through your options and help you make a decision on timing that is in your best interest. He or she can also help you keep track of progress made on the sale of your home and the purchase of a new one.

Does Your Purchase DePenD on Your sale?

If you find a new home you want to buy, you might include a

contingency clause in your offer. This means your purchase of the new home depends on the sale of your current home. But using a contingency clause can also put you in a weaker position as a buyer, since another buyer with-out a contingency may be more attractive to a seller. Again, your Lubbock REALTOR® has the experience to guide you through difficult decisions such as this.

helP Is Where You neeD It

If your selling agent doesn’t serve the new city you’re moving to, he or she may be able to give you a referral for a REALTOR® who can help you locate your next property to purchase. That referral can save you time while

matching you up with another professional ready to help you achieve your goals.

sellIng Is a neW exPerIence

Remember when you bought your first home and had a lot to learn? Selling also has a learning curve, since your to-dos during the home-selling process won’t be exactly the same as when you bought your home. Putting yourself in a buyer’s shoes can help you position your home as an attractive property to purchase and help you make that first-time sale.

For more advice about buying and selling real estate, visit Lub-bockRealtors.com and TexasReal-Estate.com.

Five ways to be a savvy first-time seller

RUIZ

LocaL ReaL estate News – LUbbock assocIatIoN of ReaLtoRs

BY Debora Perez Ruiz, PresidentLubbock Association of REALTORS®

WASHINGTON – Sales of existing homes rose in July even with constraints of affordable inventory, and the national median price is showing five consecutive months of year-over-year increases, according to the National Association of Re-altors®. Monthly sales rose in every region but the West, where inventory is very tight.

Total existing-home sales, which are completed trans-actions that include single-family homes, town homes, condominiums and co-ops, grew 2.3 percent to a sea-sonally adjusted annual rate of 4.47 million in July from 4.37 million in June, and are 10.4 percent above the 4.05 million-unit pace in July 2011.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said housing af-fordability conditions are very good. “Mortgage inter-est rates have been at record lows this year while rents have been rising at faster rates. Combined, these fac-tors are helping to unleash

a pent-up demand. However, the market is constrained by unnecessarily tight lend-ing standards and shrinking inventory supplies, so housing could easily be much stronger without these abnormal frictions.”

NAR is asking the government to expeditiously re-lease the foreclosed properties it owns in inventory-con-strained markets.

Given population and de-mographic demand, Yun said existing-home sales could be in a normal range of 5 to 5.5 million if all conditions were optimal. “Sales may reach 5 million next year, but it will require more sensible lend-ing standards and stronger job creation to push beyond that,” he said.

According to Freddie Mac, the national average com-mitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage fell to a record low 3.55 percent in July

from 3.68 percent in June; the rate was 4.55 percent in July 2011; recordkeeping be-gan in 1971.

“Fewer sales in the lower price ranges are con-tributing to stron-ger increases in the median price, but all of the home price measures now are showing positive movement and that is build-ing confidence in the market,” Yun

said. “Furthermore, the higher median price natu-rally means more housing contribution to economic growth.”

The national median existing-home price for all housing types was $187,300 in July, up 9.4 percent from a year ago. The last time there were five back-to-back monthly price increases from a year earlier was in Janu-ary to May of 2006. The July gain was the strongest since January 2006 when the me-dian price rose 10.2 percent

from a year earlier.Distressed homes – fore-

closures and short sales sold at deep discounts – ac-counted for 24 per-cent of July sales, down from 25 per-cent in June and 29 percent in July 2011. Foreclosures sold for an average discount of 17 per-cent below market value in July, while short sales were discounted 15 per-cent.

NAR President Moe Veissi, broker-owner of Veissi & As-sociates Inc., in Miami, said pricing is the primary fac-tor in determining how long homes stay on the market.

“Correctly priced homes, regardless of price range, are selling quickly these days,” he said. “Fully one-third of homes purchased in July were on the market for less than a month, and only 21 percent were on the market for six months or longer. Sell-ers should carefully consider a Realtor’s® advice about

marketing their homes.”Total housing inventory

at the end July increased 1.3 percent to 2.40 million

existing homes available for sale, which represents a 6.4-month sup-ply at the cur-rent sales pace. Listed inventory is 23.8 percent below a year ago when there was a 9.3-month supply.

Yun said there are distortions in

housing inventory. “The to-tal supply of housing inven-tory appears to be balanced in historic terms, but there are notable shortages in the lower price ranges which are limiting opportunities for first-time buyers. The low price ranges also are popular with investors, so entry-level buyers are at a disadvantage because many investors are making all-cash offers.”

First-time buyers account-ed for 34 percent of pur-chasers in July, up from 32

percent in June; they were also 32 percent in July 2011. Under normal conditions, entry-level buyers account for four out of 10 purchases.

Single-family home sales increased 2.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.98 million in July from 3.90 million in June, and are 9.9 percent above the 3.62 million-unit level in July 2011. The median exist-ing single-family home price was $188,100 in July, up 9.6 percent from a year ago.

Regionally, existing-home sales in the South rose 2.3 percent to an annual level of 1.77 million in July and are 8.6 percent above July 2011. The median price in the re-gion was $162,600, up 6.6 percent from a year ago.

Existing-home sales in the West were unchanged at an annual pace of 1.08 million in July but are 5.9 percent higher than a year ago. With pronounced inventory short-ages, the median price in the West was $238,600, a jump of 24.5 percent from July 2011.

Existing-home sales improve in July, prices continue to rise

YUN VeIssI

6 SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 2012 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL homes.lubbockonline.com

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ReAl eSTATe SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 2012 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL 7homes.lubbockonline.com

This Featured Home was built by Custom Homes by Robert Wood. It is located at 4107 124th in the Brooke Heights addition, off of 124th and Quaker Avenue, just south of Orchard Park. This Featured Home is sponsored by the West Texas Home Builders Asso-ciation in cooperation with the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.

Robert started Custom Homes by Robert Wood in 2002 and began fulfill-ing his dreams of being a home builder. Robert’s first entry in the West Texas Home Builders Association Parade of Home® was in 2006, when he began wow-ing people with his designs and unique creativity. Over

the last five years, he has received awards for his homes from “Best Kitchen” to “Best Bathroom” to “Best Overall” and most impor-tantly, “People’s Choice.” Robert states that he is most proud of the People’s Choice award because it matters so much to him what his clients think. He spends quality time with each of his clients and listens to every detail of their needs. When walking through a Custom Home by Robert Wood, it is obvious that each craftsman on his team takes pride in their work.

This home in Brooke Heights displays his craftsmanship and features all of the great amenities

that each Robert Wood Home displays. This home is approximately 2,520 square feet and is priced at $294,400. It has three bed-rooms, two baths and a two-car garage. It is a very open floor plan from the kitchen to the living area. The beautiful stained custom cabinetry in the kitchen is accented with beautiful granite countertops, stain-less steel appliances, and an extra large island.

The interior also features superb flooring, a stone fireplace surrounded by floor to ceiling cabinets, two eating areas (one casual and one formal), an isolated master with his and her sinks in the master bath, and great closet space with

a separate tub and shower. The exterior of the home is brick and stone with great curb appeal and an extra large patio to enjoy your West Texas evenings. This

home will be held open for you to view Saturday from 2-4 p.m.

This home is being mar-keted by Scott Toman of RE/MAX Lubbock. Please

call (806)787-6571 for your private showing. You can also view more photos at www.ScottToman.com or www.RobertWoodHomes.com.

4107 124th – Brooke Heights

Featured Floorplan – Custom Homes by robert Wood

Nationwide housing production edged down 1.1 per-cent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 746,000 units in July, according to newly released figures from HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau. However, builders pulled more permits for planned new-home projects than they have in any month since August of 2008.

“While many builders believe that the outlook for housing is considerably brighter than it has been in years, we are being very careful about keeping inven-tories tight and not building ahead of demand,” noted Barry Rutenberg, chairman of the National Associa-tion of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Gainesville, Fla. “At the same time, builders are drawing more permits for new construction so we can accommodate buyers and renters as they return to the marketplace.”

“Our latest surveys confirm builders’ increased con-fidence about future home buyer demand, and that’s reflected in today’s permit numbers,” agreed NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. “Increasingly, hous-ing is re-emerging as a traditional and much-needed source of strength in local economies as builders are able to put more of their crews back to work. But two things that are slowing this process considerably are

the challenges that builders continue to face in access-ing credit for viable new projects and the difficulty of obtaining accurate appraisals on new homes.”

After four consecutive months of gains, single-fami-ly housing starts fell back 6.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 502,000 units in July. Mean-while, multifamily starts posted a 12.4 percent gain to 244,000 units, their strongest pace since February.

On a regional basis, combined single- and multifam-ily starts declined 1.3 percent in the Northeast, 3.5 percent in the South and 5.3 percent in the West, but rose 17 percent in the Midwest in July.

Issuance of new building permits, which can be an indicator of future building activity, rose 6.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 812,000 units in July – the fastest pace in nearly four years. Single-family permits rose 4.5 percent to 513,000 units (their best pace since March of 2010) while multifamily per-mits rose 11.2 percent to 299,000 units.

Permit issuance rose in three out of four regions in July, with the Northeast registering a 12.2 percent gain, the South a 5.8 percent gain and the West a 14.0 percent gain. The Midwest posted a 4.2 percent de-cline.

Housing starts edge down 1.1 percent, permits rise in July

8 SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 2012 LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL homes.lubbockonline.com

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