All Forum Posts by: Ellen Jester

Hi Ellie,

I just joined BP yesterday so I'm enjoying getting caught up on some Houston real estate posts on here this morning. :) I don't know if you ever found a realtor but if not, I would be happy to help you. I live in the Heights and currently work with a seasoned investor who buys rental properties so I'm familiar with the metrics to which you are probably looking to adhere.  Feel free to reach out even if you just want to bounce some ideas around. Good luck!

Lived in Houston all of my 51 years and I'm confident you will love this city as much as I do!  I am also an "inner looper" and would be happy to talk with you, and help you achieve your goals.  As indicated by others, a lot of this will depend on your price point.  PM me if there is anything I can do for you.  Best of luck to you!

Artillery Construction in Houston does this. I follow them on instagram. 

In Texas, before the For Sale sign even goes in the yard, the seller & list agent have agreed to the commission that will be paid at closing.  Further, when the seller signs the listing agreement, he/she also specifically agrees to not negotiate with a buyer who may contact the seller directly, but rather refer the buyer back to the agent/broker.  I'm happy to point to the paragraphs in the listing agreement if you want confirmation of this fact.  

A lot of buyers think that they can save the seller 3%, or the buyer & seller can split the buyer agent commission, but it is prohibited under the agreement the seller signed before the property went on the market. If the property is a FSBO or not already listed, for sure -- go for it. But if it is, I don't see the upside to a buyer not using a buyer's agent -- it likely won't cost you a dime, and you will have someone guarding YOUR interests, and handling the coordination of the many, many aspects of the transaction to ensure a smooth closing. Plus, you can relax knowing it's the agents job to ensure you don't miss something which may result in costly delays or breach of contract.

I'm a realtor in Houston, TX. I own 2 lots, side by side, in a very desirable area of town.  My husband & I want to contract with a builder to build us a home on one of the lots, and a 2nd home on the lot next door which I could then list upon completion.  I have heard about "investors" partnering w/ builders but I'm not really sure how this works.  Unfortunately, my niche is not new construction.  Is anyone aware of Houston area builders that do this type of thing?  I'd welcome feedback from any of you that may have had experiences with this sort of thing, lessons learned, what to watch out for, etc.   TYIA.