The Sugar Land Luxury Market is On the Rise—Here’s What it Means for You.

rising luxury salesLuxury home sales in the Houston-area real estate market are on the rise, according to a recent study by the Houston Association of REALTORS®. What does this mean for Fort Bend County luxury shoppers? It means more homes on the market—and also more competition and rising prices.

Luxury Home Sales in Houston Hit All-Time Highs

The luxury market sales (homes over $750,000) for June 2017 hit an all-time high, rising a whopping 13% from last year. The real estate market as a whole is climbing, with overall sales up 8.3% from last year. The cause? A solid economy and strong employment opportunities drawing new residents to the area and encouraging current renters to delve into the homeowner’s market.

New Development is On the Rise

To meet the increased demand for luxury housing, new development is also on the rise, with plenty of new communities and homes springing up throughout the Houston area. Yet despite the increased inventory (up .5 months from last year), homes are actually selling more quickly as demand continues to grow.stunning new gourmet kitchen

Sugar Land Luxury Grows

Sugar Land is no exception to Houston’s real estate trends. Currently in Sugar Land alone, there are over 100 luxury homes (over $750,000) on the Houston Multiple Listing Service. What does a luxury home look like in Sugar Land?

The Luxury Homes of Sugar Land

If you’re looking for the cream-of-the-crop luxury in Sugar Land, a surprising $6.5 million will get you quite a bit, like this stunning gated compound on Alkire Lake, featuring a main estate, a carriage house, tennis and basketball courts, a swimming pool and spa, a boat dock, 8 garages, and a firepit and gazebo.stunning luxury outdoor lounge

On the lower end of the spectrum is this lovely custom home in the gated Enclave community at Lake Pointe, which features a media room, game room, an elevator—and stunning lakefront property.

Sugar Land’s Best Luxury Deal

For a middle-ground luxury find that’s the perfect blend between opulence and price tag, don’t miss 511 Ogden Trail. Located in the spectacular Telfair community, this grandiose brick estate is a wonder of bold modern elegance, inside and out. From the breathtaking 2-story greatroom to the expansive master suite with a wall of bay windows to the spacious pool deck and outdoor kitchen, this home truly has everything to offer—and more.

Searching for Your Luxury Dream Home in Sugar Land?

If you’re looking for the perfect luxury home in Sugar Land or Fort Bend County, then it’s time to contact me. As your Sugar Land area expert realtor, I’m here to help you explore the area, learn more about buying a home, and find the perfect neighborhood for your home. I even offer bilingual services for my foreign clientele!

Want Top Dollar for Your Home? Hire a Real Estate Pro

A quick Google search is all it takes to discover hundreds of new recipes, do-it-yourself projects, and tips about how to stage your home. With so much information available online, especially about the home selling process, many homeowners start to wonder whether it’s faster and more cost-efficient to sell their own homes rather than hiring a real estate agent to do it for them. (Spoiler alert: It’s not.)

Sold sign in front of single-family houseMaybe you’re just now thinking about selling your home. All those HGTV shows and helpful articles make it look so easy — how hard could it be to sell your home yourself? Or maybe you’re already elbows deep into selling For Sale By Owner and are thinking, this isn’t so bad.

A helpful tip when considering whether to skip right over hiring an agent: Just because you can do something yourself doesn’t mean that you should, especially when it comes to selling a home.

So what makes a real estate agent so invaluable?

What Does a Real Estate Agent Do, Anyway?

Everything from preparing paperwork to negotiating the price and terms — you name it, a real estate agent does it. But what many home sellers forget is that a real estate agent’s job is a lot of behind-the-scenes work.

contract to purchase a homeWhen you hire a real estate professional, you’re not only benefitting from the agent’s intimate knowledge of what’s happening in the local housing market, you’re also working with a licensed professional who is legally bound to work in your best interests. A few essential elements of their job include:

  • Researching recent comparable sales to determine the best price for your home
  • Spending their own time and money to market your listing
  • Promoting your home through their network of contacts and the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)
  • Coordinating showing appointments and open houses on your behalf
  • Responding quickly to inquiries about your property
  • Writing counteroffers and filling out required disclosures
  • Doing everything they can to help you achieve your goals

Isn’t It Cheaper to Sell My Home Myself?

Commission — a percentage of the sale proceeds that goes to the real estate agents involved in the transaction — is a major factor in the decision to go FSBO (For Sale By Owner) or hire a real estate pro. Working without a real estate agent will certainly save you a few thousand dollars on commission, but there’s a catch.

If You Go Down the FSBO Road

If you decide to go FSBO, you won’t save as much money as you think. You might not even save money at all.

Sign that says For Sale By OwnerYou will have to spend your own time and money to invest in quality photography for your listing, purchase marketing materials (and not just a For Sale By Owner sign), carefully research which home improvements will bring you the most bang for your buck, and list your home on the MLS, just to name a few.

This all assumes that you price your property correctly, manage to entice more than a couple of buyers with your marketing efforts, investigate whether interested buyers are actually qualified to purchase your home, make all the right repairs so no red flags surface during the home inspection, and don’t make a costly mistake involving disclosure forms or the contract!

If You Work with a Real Estate Agent

Since real estate agents are licensed professionals, they are experts at handling all the details of your transaction. They will help you avoid costly mistakes, negotiate the best price and terms for your property, and ensure that it sells for top dollar.

At the end of the day, working with a real estate agent instead of going FSBO will save you time, money, and headaches.

Okay, I’m Convinced — What Do I Do Next?

If your goal is to sell your home quickly and for top dollar, we can help. We’re more than happy to share our wealth of home selling resources, including staging tips and a home evaluation. Give us a call and let’s talk about your plans.

Looking for Affordable? Here are 3 Amazing Best Fort Bend County Homes for Sale Under $300k

Thinking of purchasing a home in one of the lovely communities of Fort Bend County, TX but concerned about staying within your budget? Fear not! There are some truly outstanding affordable homes for sale in Fort Bend County in magnificent cities like Sugar Land, Richmond, and Katy. In fact, there are over 500 listings under $300,000! So, just what can you find for that price in Fort Bend? Here are some of the finest Fort Bend County homes under $300k.

Fort Bend County Homes for Sale Under $300k

13023 Sandflower Lane in Sugar Land

fort bend county homes for sale under $300k

This stunning home offers four bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, and over 2,900 square feet of living space. Set in a gated community on a cul-de-sac street, 13023 Sandflower Lane offers everything you need in a home with a low tax rate —like this stunning formal dining room, opening to the two-story grand entryway.

luxurious fort bend county homes for sale under $300k

Other features you’ll love? A master suite with a corner soaking tub, cultured marble counters, and dual vanities—or the open kitchen with silestone counters and a 4 burner gas cooktop. There are also those lofty ceilings in the greatroom, the large upstairs game room, oh, and the carpet has ben recently replaced! plus that parklike looking backyard, featuring a firepit and beautiful landscape.

And it’s all for just $296,900!

1946 Mayweather Lane in Richmond

magnificent fort bend county home under $300k

This brand-new home in the Pecan Grove neighborhood of Richmond, TX is four bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and over 2,000 square feet. Featuring an open-concept floorplan and bright windows for maximum lighting, this one-story home is filled with features you’ll adore, like this beautiful kitchen—open to the family room and the formal dining room.

luxurious granite kitchen in fort bend county home for sale

Other features you’ll like? Granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, custom crown moulding, carpet throughout, and energy efficient features and design. Plus, the backyard offers a quiet outdoor respite, and the neighborhood provides plenty of walking paths and open spaces.

All this, just $251,900.

2723 Colony Drive in Sugar Land

beautiful fort bend county homes for sale under $300k

Discover the natural beauty and gorgeous home features of this beautiful four bedroom, two bathroom ranch-style home with over 2,100 square feet of living space. From the renovated kitchen with granite counters and travertine backsplash to this stunning open greatroom featuring vaulted ceilings, a backyard walkout, and a fireplace, there’s so much you’ll love about 2723 Colony Drive.

vaulted ceiling in fort bend county homes for sale under $300k

Other great features include double-paned windows for maximum energy efficiency, new paint, flooring, and carpets, a formal dining room, and a spacious fenced backyard.

It’s just $239,900.

Ready to Find Your Affordable Fort Bend Dream Home?

Thinking of buying a home in Fort Bend County, TX? Then it’s time to contact Karla Arjona. As your local real estate expert—and bilingual agent—I’m here to help you explore the area, learn more about relocating to Fort Bend, and start searching homes for sale in the area.

Should You Hire a Professional or DIY on Those Home Repairs?

equipment for a do-it-yourself home repairTo DIY or not to DIY? That’s the question on many homeowners’ minds when there’s a repair or home improvement project on their to-do lists. The good news is that you can do plenty of things on your own. But for other projects, you’re better off hiring a licensed contractor, plumber, or electrician to do the work for you.

When undertaking a home improvement project, whether you’re buying or selling a home, you want to strike a balance between saving time by hiring a professional and saving money by doing it yourself. So here’s how to know when to hire a professional and when to go DIY.

Replacing Hardware — Do It Yourself

Need an upgrade from tarnished doorknobs, outdated cabinet pulls, or boring light switches? Pick up new hardware from a local home improvement store and go for it. Replacing hardware is a fairly simple fix that any homeowner can do on their own.

roofer's tool belt on top of a houseReplacing Roof Shingles — Hire a Professional

Unless you have significant roofing experience (and aren’t afraid of heights), you’re better off leaving this job to the professionals. Contractors can repair your roof in significantly less time — and save you risk of injury.

Installing Ceiling Fans or Light Fixtures — It Depends

If the wiring is already there, you can put in a new fan or light in your living room yourself with little problem. Just make sure that you’ve turned off the power on the circuit breaker before removing the original fixture.

However, if you want to add a ceiling fan or overhead light to a room that doesn’t have wiring already in place, you will need to hire an electrician. They will check to see if your home has sufficient amperage (and rewire the room if necessary), cut and patch drywall to install the fixture, and add a light switch.

Installing Major Appliances — Hire a Professional

Installing a new oven, refrigerator, washing machine, or dishwasher takes quite a bit of know-how, so you’re better off hiring a professional to get the job done right. They will check the wattage, check gas and water connections, and ensure that your new appliance is level, among other things.

white tile backsplash in updated kitchenAdding a Backsplash — Do It Yourself

Adding wall tile to your kitchen or bathroom is something you can do yourself. Home improvement stores have all the equipment you need, from mortar to tile cutters to the wall tiles themselves. When considering this DIY project, make sure that you have the time to prepare the mortar and grout, lay the tile, seal the backsplash, and allow everything to dry.

Adding Granite or Quartz Countertops — Hire a Professional

Upgrading your countertops involves precise cutting of the quartz or granite and assistance from several people to lift the heavy countertops — plus the initial assurance that your cabinets can support the weight of the heavy material. So when installing new granite or quartz counters, it’s better to hire a professional.

Need Recommended Service Providers?

Whether you’re buying or selling a home, we can connect you with trusted contractors, electricians, plumbers, and other professionals who can save you time and money on your home improvements. Contact us and we’ll be happy to provide recommendations!