Picking a neighborhood that fits your lifestyle and desires is an important part of the homebuying process. It can be challenging, though … there are so many things to consider.

For a lot of people, quality schools top the list of desirable neighborhood amenities. It may surprise you that being in an area with good schools is important even for people without children because good schools mean a higher resale value.

As unpleasant as it may be, the crime statistics of an area are important, too. Take your time and do your research on this one … there are plenty of resources out there, including local law enforcement resources, Web sites, even neighborhood Internet groups.

You may also want to consider transportation issues, such as how living in an area is going to affect your day-to-day errands, your commute, and the ease of access to public transportation and major thoroughfares.

Some people want to be in close proximity to healthcare facilities. Others find that having quick access to shopping centers or their favorite grocery store or restaurants is a top priority. Still others may value features such as public pools and parks, access to bike routes and jogging and walking trails.

The point is that everyone’s list will be different. The key is to find a neighborhood that scores well in areas you deem important. That’s a good place to focus your search efforts.

If you’re able to find everything you’re looking for in a neighborhood, good for you! However, if you’re like many people, you may have to make some sacrifices. A neighborhood you’re considering may score well on most of your checklist but not meet every single one of your criteria. That’s when you have to decide if one missing attribute can be offset by the presence of another.

Many Texas REALTORS® concentrate on becoming experts in specific neighborhoods or zip codes, so if you find an area you like, great representation may be close by.

My fiancé and I decided to make the transition from renters to homeowners at the start of the new year. And, of course, the step between the two roles requires us to temporarily become house hunters.

Work with a professional
I’ll admit that I have a potential advantage over other first-time homebuyers. My real estate agent is also my fiancé – and he already has a network of professionals in place who we trust and who know the market.

But you don’t have to be engaged to a Texas REALTOR® to benefit from his experience and resources. Ask your friends, family, even coworkers, if they have worked with a Texas REALTOR® recently who they can recommend. Or, if asking for referrals doesn’t pan out, you can always use the Find a Texas REALTOR® search on TexasRealEstate.com.

A learning experience
Our first step after deciding to take the plunge into homeownership was to meet with a mortgage broker and get pre-approved. This helped me set a realistic budget and price range. Then I jumped into the world of MLSs, real estate websites, and FSBOs.

This, again, is where having a Texas REALTOR® close by to explain things comes in handy. For example, I have asked mine more than once to describe the difference between a short sale and a foreclosure while grocery shopping or explain the purpose of an option period over dinner.

The fun part
Our mortgage broker wished us luck in our search and was quick to remind me that even though it can feel overwhelming, shopping for your first home ideally should be fun. And I must admit that imagining possible home improvement projects and coming home to a place of our own is exciting.

Our next step is to decide what we’re looking for in a home – location, features, yard size – and decide what we’re willing to compromise on to get the best deal on a home we love. For now, the search is just the beginning.

All Texas homeowners qualify for a homestead exemption on their principal residence. This exemption reduces the taxable value of a home – meaning a lower annual bill to local taxing entities.

You must apply for the exemption, but there is no fee associated with applying for a homestead exemption.

Scammers send official-looking stationery to suggest that a fee (usually $50 or more) must be paid for a homeowner to get the exemption. They may also imply that their company is an official taxing authority or a “tax processing center.” These claims are false and deceptive.

Texas state law requires these companies to make it clear that they are not a governmental agency. Yet, many people are confused by these solicitations and send in the fees. These letters usually start appearing in mailboxes during the first few weeks of the new year, so be on your toes.

You can download the application for residential homestead exemption from the state comptroller’s Web site and send it in to your appraisal district.

After my husband and I decided that we should hire professionals for our move, we searched for the best deal for our budget. In addition to websites like Yelp, word-of-mouth recommendations are a great way to find out about movers, and your Texas REALTOR® is a good place to start.

We narrowed down the competition with these five tips.

Think three
There’s no harm in calling multiple moving companies for estimates, but decide on at least three that you want to learn more about.

Get an in-person assessment
Most people aren’t good at judging how much stuff they own, and while some companies have online tools to help you create an estimate with your best guess, you should have your top-three picks visit your home and take inventory for an accurate estimate.

You’ll be asked about what you’re planning to take, the moving supplies that you need, and about your heavy or fragile items. Your movers will need to know the layout of your new home, too, so don’t forget to tell them about the three flights of stairs or your lack of a driveway.

Ask questions
There are plenty of questions you can ask depending on your situation, but here are some you shouldn’t miss.

Are you licensed for in- or out-of-state moves? The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles licenses moving companies, which must display a valid TxDMV or United States Department of Transportation license number on the truck to operate legally. Find out if a company is licensed on the TxDMV website.
What type of insurance do you carry? (workers’ compensation)
What insurance coverage do you offer? (valuation or replacement coverage)
Can I pack myself? Will my items be covered if so?
Is your crew bonded? (protection in case of employee theft, vandalism)
Are there items you won’t transport? (light bulbs, batteries, gas)
Be honest
Be upfront about what you need your movers to do, whether it’s packing and unloading, assembling or dissembling items, or heavy lifting. You may think you can get a deal by glossing over details, but you’ll ultimately pay more for your hidden extras and your movers won’t be pleased.

Negotiate the deal
You’ll receive an estimate from your moving companies based on several factors, such as the distance of the move and the potential gas expense, the weight or square footage that your items will use in the moving van, and labor costs. This is where having more than one estimate will come in handy. Don’t be afraid to tell your top pick if you’ve received a lower estimate that appeals to you, or roughly how much you want to spend. Look for other areas in which you can negotiate, such as free hauling services or reduced rates for extra supplies or a different move date.

Your movers can be a huge help, but only if you put in the effort to choose the right one for your move.

Location: New York, N.Y.
Price: $29,500,000
The Skinny: Just a door down from Fifth Avenue and Central Park, this 5,200-square-foot penthouse sits atop a 42-foot-wide Horace Trumbauer-designed mansion that was converted into condominiums. This one, the largest of the building’s units, belongs to TV personality Joan Rivers and boasts over-the-top pre-war detailing, 23-foot ceilings, ornate marble mantels, and parquet floors.

That sort of luxury — combined with massive space — comes with a high price tag on Manhattan’s ritzy Upper East Side, but all things considered, the $29.5 million price tag is surprisingly high. In part that’s because the building enjoys a level of service usually reserved for much larger luxury apartment houses, including a doorman and elevator operator. Of course, those services don’t come for free either, as monthly maintenance and taxes top $20,000 per month.

Take a look at this breakfast nook makeover that Better Homes and Gardens featured. It’s in a 1935 Cape-style cottage in upstate New York.

Just released – the April 2012 RE/MAX Market Insights Quarterly Survey shows agents say prices are rebounding, but homebuyers can still find good values. See all the numbers: http://bit.ly/JwH8Cg

An old email about Texas homestead exemptions seems to pop up whenever an election approaches. In this message, the sender warns seniors and disabled citizens about losing their homestead exemption.

It certainly catches the eye … and the sender probably has good intentions, but it’s just not true.

A short history lesson
In May 2007, Texas voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment to extend property-tax relief to elderly and disabled citizens.

The amendment addresses an administrative oversight whereby a then-recently passed property-tax reduction did not apply to homeowners whose tax rates were frozen due to being over 65 or disabled.

It also bears mentioning that these citizens were never in jeopardy of outright losing their homestead exemptions.

Text of the bogus email
Very important for seniors and disabled. Remember to vote AND look for this on the ballot. You MUST vote in May to keep the Homestead tax cap for 65 and over, even if you are not 65 yet. If you are a Texas homeowner then this is important to YOU, no matter what your current age, or if you are disabled or not. It WILL BENEFIT YOU in the future. It is also very important to your relatives/friends who are in one of these groups already. If you agree, please pass along to all on your TEXAS Residents email lists.

I am sending this email to everyone on my email address list who lives in Texas . I want to be certain you are aware of a constitutional amendment that will be on the ballot at the May election. It is an amendment to correct an error made by the lawmakers when they voted for a reduction in school property taxes in 2005.

When the lawmakers voted for a one-third reduction in school property taxes beginning in 2006 and to be completed this year, they FORGOT about the Homestead Exemption for senior citizens (65 and older) and people with disabilities. The state constitution caps school property taxes for homeowners 65 years and older and those who are disabled. However, they DID NOT get the same reduction when the property tax cut for schools was voted on two years ago.

So an amendment is on the May ballot to correct this error. The problem is that most voters who are younger than 65 or not disabled probably won’t even notice the amendment or care. At least not until THEY become 65 or disabled themselves and then if this doesn’t pass, it will be TOO LATE. PLEASE get out and vote for this amendment if not for yourself, then for your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends.

We would really appreciate your getting the word out to all your friends and families to VOTE FOR this Amendment. The fear is that with a low voter turnout, the amendment could very well not pass. So, please, please pass the word and VOTE FOR the Constitutional Amendment. Early voting will take place April 30 – May 5 from 7 am to 7 pm; May 6 from noon to 6 pm and May 7 – May 8 from 7 am to 7 pm. Election day is May 12 from 7 am to 7 pm.

This living room really didn’t look so bad in the before photos–just a little bare (and I’m sure the Halloween decorations were only temporary!). But when I saw what designer Alison Royer did with it over at BDG Style, I was amazed by the transformation.

One of the first things I noticed was what a difference the new moldings around the fireplace made. Wow!