Information about Fort Hood / Killeen Area tax rates, tax assessors and municipalities, and how it affects your home expenses and mortgage.
Everything You Need to Know About Fort Hood, TX Property Taxes
August is Cold – The Seasons of the Fort Hood, TX Housing Market
No surprises – winter is the best time to buy, and summer is the best time to sell. A quick review of how many homes sold by month in 2017.
A Brief History of the Fort Hood Area
Updated 8/24/17; Originally published 8/11/15 The City of Killeen began in 1882 with a population of 350 as a railroad junction between Temple and Lampasas. The city was named for a railroad executive Frank Patrick Killeen, who not only was not from the area, but never even stepped foot in the town that was his […]
The Killeen First Time Homebuyer Program with Down Payment Assistance
Takeaways Consider using the Killeen Homebuyer Assistance Program if you are a first-time homebuyer in Killeen! You still have to qualify for a loan, but you can get some of the costs paid Start here first if you’re a first-time homebuyer Benefits The Killeen Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP) provides up to $7500 toward low-income buyers’ […]
Fort Hood’s HUGEST Homes For Sale
Originally published 1/17/16, Updated 5/23/17 Everything is Bigger in Texas Fort Hood is one of America’s largest military bases in the world by both population and area. The post features big tanks, big guns and big helicopters. Everything is bigger in Texas. The area’s homes are no exception. The median home size in the Fort […]
How Many Fort Hood Area Buyers are Looking For Your Home?
Updated 8/12/16; originally published 8/3/15 Takeaways Selling a $120,000 home is different to selling a $240,000 home – there are different quantities of buyers at different price points. Knowing how many buyers to expect will be interested in your home at any given moment can help set expectations Every showing counts! Let’s say you are getting […]
How the VA loan can Trap Homeowners
Updated 8/9/16, originally published 8/2/15 Takeaways The VA loan is a fantastic loan option for Fort Hood service members, but it is not a blank check. Plan ahead, budget and have an exit strategy, even if it is your “forever home” (situations change) Talk to a Realtor – especially when buying from a builder – […]
The 9 Step Guide To Buying a Home in Fort Hood, TX
Buying a home is a major decision, the biggest investment in most people’s lives, and a lot of fun! Where to start? Right here, with the 9 steps to buying a home – in particular, a Fort Hood, TX home!
Fort Hood Housing Market Update – 2nd Quarter, 2016
Takeaways Fort Hood inventory falls under 5 months, creeping toward a Seller’s Market The rebounding fourplex/duplex market has plateaued The Harker Heights housing market continues to be one of the best performing communities Housing Inventory Falls Under 5 Months The Fort Hood area behaves like a weak buyer’s market – sellers often pay closing costs, […]
How to choose a quality Realtor®
Updated 7/1/16; originally published 8/15/15 Takeaways Purchasing a home is a major purchase; do your due diligence when choosing an agent. Cross reference several different resources when evaluating an agent and their history Personal references count for a lot, but still evaluate agents referred to you. So, you’ve found some Realtors® and narrowed down your list […]
Fort Hood’s HOA Neighborhoods
Updated 6/26/16; originally published 8/21/15 Some people are looking for them. Others are trying to avoid them. Home Owners Associations. Most neighborhoods in the Fort Hood area are not HOA neighborhoods. Unlike HOA fees in the pricey coastal communities exhibited on HGTV shows, Central Texas HOAs tend to be very affordable – as you will […]
The Home Buyer’s Ten Commandments
(Updated 6/16/16; originally published 7/30/15) Takeaways Steer clear from major purchases or moving money around when trying to buy a home Job changes of any kind (like ETSing from the military) can make buying a home very difficult Budget out the process with your lender and be sure you have enough in your bank account […]
The Best Pool Homes For Sale Near Fort Hood, TX
Updated 2/4/18; Originally published 5/31/16 It’s Central Texas. It’s hot! There must be pools galore! Or not. Approximately 5%, or 1 in 20 homes in the Fort Hood area have pools. Why so few? Firstly, it may not actually be quite that few. My guess is that pool owners tend to live in their homes […]
You Lose $6,111 If Your Home Doesn’t Sell In 1 Month
Updated 5/28/16 Takeaways The longer on the market, the bigger the discount a home sells for. The listing price should be close to the fair market value to maximize your experience and profit “My home sold in two weeks. Does that mean it was underpriced?” No. It probably means you did great. Homes are like […]
The Most Expensive Homes For Sale in Killeen, TX
Updated 2/4/18; Originally published 5/9/16 Killeen barely has a true luxury market, especially if one defines luxury as homes requiring Jumbo Loans. It isn’t so much that great homes don’t exist, but that they are extremely affordable in comparison to homes even just a couple cities away (*cough* Austin *cough*). Killeen has a great cost […]
Stillhouse Wine Room
Why drive two hours roundtrip for Austin’s live music and beverage selection when there is something so much closer to home? The Stillhouse Wine Room is a classy, upscale wine bar on Stan Schlueter in Killeen.
Selling Your House Vacant? That’ll Cost You $8756.27 in the Fort Hood Area.
How does it affect the price if you sell your home vacant versus while living in it? I studied the Ft. Hood area (Killeen, Harker Heights, Copperas Cove) MLS stats to come up with an answer, and it was the complete opposite of what I expected.
What Happened in the 2015 Fort Hood Housing Market?
The final verdict is in on the Fort Hood real estate market in 2015 – trending upwards!
5 Tips for Living in the Fort Hood Area
5 Random tips on what to expect and how to better manage living in the Fort Hood Area (Killeen, Harker Heights, Copperas Cove, etc.)
Killeen’s Big Hoss BBQ at the Settlement
Big Hoss BBQ
9502 E Trimmier Rd.
Killeen, TX 76542
(254) 699-HOSS (4677)
(254) 702-8243 (Catering)
Hours: FRI: 4PM – 9PM, SAT: 11AM – 9PM, SUN: 11AM – 7PM
Killeen Home Value Appreciation Is Beating Inflation
The average annual appreciation (2006 – 2014) for Killeen, TX was 2.2%. Accounting for inflation, the real rate was 0%. Here’s why that’s just fine.
Say What? Killeen has the 6th fastest growing economy in the USA.
According to WalletHub, Killeen’s economy ranks as the 6th fastest growing in 2015, also boasting the 4th highest reduction in poverty.
Killeen’s Taiwan Dragon Restaurant
Information about the Taiwan Dragon Chinese Restaurant. 308 E Avenue G Killeen, TX 76541 (254) 526-2229 or (254) 526-0392 (Pick-up)
The Income Approach to Home Valuation
How much is a home worth? This is something everyone needs to know, whether it be a buyer, seller, investor, or lender. There are three methods of valuing or appraising a home. Comparable Sales Approach Cost Approach Income Approach I’ve previously discussed the typical method, and often the only method a real estate agent will […]
Fort Hood Area Inventory Is Shrinking
Is it a buyer’s market or a seller’s market? Is there a way to tell other than gut feelings and anecdotes about how quickly homes are selling or not? Of course. It’s called months of inventory (or absorption rate). Months of Inventory and Absorption Rates are the same thing. “Absorption Rate” is a term more […]
Killeen’s Long Branch Park
Long Branch Park 1101 Branch Dr. Killeen, TX 76543 Long Branch Park is by far the largest and most diverse Killeen Park, and easily the best park on the north side of town, north of Highway 190 (Lion’s Club Park is the best park south of Highway 190). The park is named after the Long […]
The Brian E Adams PACE Home Selling Strategy
Being former military, if I can make an acronym for something, I sure am going to do it. As I’ve developed my techniques for marketing homes, I’ve distilled the responsibilities and strategies into just such an acronym: PACE. Price, Accessibility, Condition and Exposure. These are the four elements that, if done right, will sell any […]
Who is Buying all the Fourplexes in Killeen?
Search the Fort Hood Area MLS for Multi-Family Homes I was working with an investor looking for a good multi-family when I went to go see what was available in my favorite Killeen fourplex neighborhood on Robinett and Stan Schlueter. I was shocked. There were NO fourplexes on the market in Weiss Addition and adjacent […]
The Hood Homes Blog
Hello Central Texans! This is my first post for my new real estate blog, mainly focusing on Fort Hood, Texas, to include the cities of Killeen, Harker Heights and Copperas Cove. I’ve been building my business in the area, and am excited to share my knowledge and experiences with would-be home buyers, sellers and investors! […]