With all of the improvements in our Houston and Greater Houston roadways, it has never been easier to enjoy the suburban lifestyle while having quick and easy access to the great city of Houston. If you are looking for a great place to raise the kids, enjoy a slower pace and revel in the wide open spaces of west Houston, Lakes of Bella Terra is the place for you.

Map to Lakes of Bella Terra, Richmond TX

Information About Brokerage Services

Whether you are looking to purchase a new home or a pre-existing property, this is a very good question. The state has rules set out for real estate professionals to make sure that all parties understand who is working for who. Besides confidentiality issues, a party could be put at a disadvantage without understanding this important factor. So before you start to discuss a specific property, your agent should provide a document know as an IABS or Information About Brokerage Services. This is a document that may be printed in any form but must include exact wording handed down by Texas lawmakers and must be initialed and/or signed to prove delivery.  The IABS reads as follows: 

 BEFORE WORKING WITH A REAL ESTATE BROKER, you should know that the duties of a broker depend on whom the broker represents. If you are a prospective seller or landlord (owner) or a prospective buyer or tenant (buyer), you should know that the broker who lists the property for sale or lease is the owner’s agent. A broker who acts as a subagent represents the owner in cooperation with the listing broker. A broker who acts as a buyer’s agent represents the buyer. A broker may act as an intermediary between the parties if the parties consent in writing. A broker can assist you in locating a property, preparing a contract or lease, or obtaining financing without representing you. A broker is obligated by law to treat you honestly.

IF THE BROKER REPRESENTS THE OWNER: The broker becomes the owner’s agent by entering into an agreement with the owner, usually through a written listing agreement, or by agreeing to act as a subagent by accepting an offer of subagency from the listing broker. A subagent may work in a different real estate office. A listing broker or subagent can assist the buyer but does not represent the buyer and must place the interests of the owner first. The buyer should not tell the owner’s agent anything the buyer would not want the owner to know because an owner’s agent must disclose to the owner any material information known to the agent.

IF THE BROKER REPRESENTS THE BUYER: The broker becomes the buyer’s agent by entering into an agreement to represent the buyer, usually through a written buyer representation agreement. A buyer’s agent can assist the owner but does not represent the owner and must place the interests of the buyer first. The owner should not tell a buyer’s agent anything the owner would not want the buyer to know because a buyer’s agent must disclose to the buyer any material information known to the agent.

IF THE BROKER ACTS AS AN INTERMEDIARY: A broker may act as an intermediary between the parties if the broker complies with The Texas Real Estate License Act. The broker must obtain the written consent of each party to the transaction to act as an intermediary. The written consent must state who will pay the broker and, in conspicuous bold or underlined print, set forth the broker’s obligations as an intermediary. The broker is required to treat each party honestly and fairly and to comply with The Texas Real Estate License Act. A broker who acts as an intermediary in a transaction:

(1) shall treat all parties honestly;

(2) may not disclose that the owner will accept a price less than the     asking price unless authorized in writing to do so by the owner;

(3) may not disclose that the buyer will pay a price greater than the price submitted in a written offer unless authorized in writing to do so by the  buyer; and

(4) may not disclose any confidential information or any information that a party specifically instructs the broker in writing not to disclose unless authorized in writing to disclose the information or required to do so by The Texas Real Estate License Act or a court order or if the information materially relates to the condition of the property.

With the parties’ consent, a broker acting as an intermediary between the parties may appoint a person who is licensed under The Texas Real Estate License Act and associated with the broker to communicate with and carry out instructions of one party and another person who is licensed under that Act and associated with the broker to communicate with and carry out instructions of the other party.

IF YOU CHOOSE TO HAVE A BROKER REPRESENT YOU, you should enter into a written agreement with the broker that clearly establishes the broker’s obligations and your obligations. The agreement should state how and by whom the broker will be paid. You have the right to choose the type of representation, if any, you wish to receive. Your payment of a fee to a broker does not necessarily establish that the broker represents you. If you have any questions regarding the duties and responsibilities of the broker, you should resolve those questions before proceeding.

The above document does not have anything at all to do with an agreement of representation but simply notifies the public of the type of representation and the expectations involved in that representation.  For further questions, ask your Realtor or post here for response.

Hubenak Elementary and Lamar CISD Opens this Fall to serve Lakes of Bella Terra Residents!

One of the main factors in the home buying decision is schools. We parents in Texas take pride in the education we offer our kids and certainly consider school offerings when purchasing a new or resale home. The exciting news for Richmond residents in Lakes of Bella Terra is Hubenak Elementary, an integral part of the Lamar CISD.

Some statistics you may not know about Lamar CISD is that seventy-three percent of Lamar’s campuses were ranked in the upper tier or academic performance, with 46% Exemplary and 27% Recognized campuses. Eighteen percent of Lamar CISD teachers hold advanced degrees, and 41.5% of Lamar CISD teachers have more than a decade of experience.

Another factor to consider is who will be in charge of the administration of the school. The leadership at Hubenak Elementary is unmatched. Veteran educator Diane Parks leads the school as its principal. Parks has served as a principal for more than a decade, at Austin Elementary from 1997 to 2001, and Ray Elementary from 2001 to 2008.

Under Park’s leadership, Ray earned the No Child Left Behind National Blue Ribbon, the highest honor for any school. She received the 2008 Terrel Bell National Award for School Leadership and was the National Distinguished Principal for Texas in 2007. Raise Your Hand Texas chose her to attend the Harvard Principal Center in the summer of 2008.

Emily Hesterman serves as Hubenak Elementary’s Assistant Principal. Hesterman began her teaching career in Katy ISD at Bear Creek Elementary before moving to McMeans Junior High in 2005. At McMeans, Hesterman led the Language Arts department as chair and successfully created an after school writing and reading program for at-risk students, ultimately improving the school’s commended performance percentage and passing rate on TAKS.

This summer, Lamar CISD earned the top prize in the HEB Grocery annual Excellence in Education Awards program, receiving $100,000 for the honor. With the school district’s outstanding performance record, Hubenak’s exceptional leadership, and the school’s incredibly convenient proximity to the Lakes of Bella Terra, it’s never been easier for parents to give their children the best.

I invite parents to visit the school web site www.LCISD.org to learn more about the exciting developments in education for our residents. Please post your comments or specific questions regarding this new development.