A list of websites to help home buyers in the Houston area.

There is a lot of information on the web, and with a little effort, you can locate the site that you need. The following list is probably directed more to first time home buyers, when it comes to assistance, but I have always suggested this information to everyone. My reasoning is that purchasing a home is such an important aspect of our lives, and it is not something most of us do on a frequent basis, so it is in our best interest to use every available resource. The agencies and firms here provide you with those resources.

Most banks offer consumer tools on their websites for people planning a major purchase. For the home buyer, a mortgage calculator is a good tool to make us of. You can also find other mortgage calculators on the web by typing that term into your search engine. Another site for articles taking you through the process of purchasing a home is usa.gov. Look at the consumer information section.

One other site containing vital data for you is your county’s website, specifically the tax appraisals. Newly built homes will not be listed, but for an existing home you can see how the county views the worth of the property. For insurance, you will need to know the division between cost of the land and cost of the improvements. Improvements are the buildings and equipment you have added to the land. Unless you expect problems with the land, you will want a quote based upon the improvements value alone. This will reduce your insurance cost.

My Articles

Articles that I have written can be found at http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Frank_Schulte-Ladbeck

I am also producing articles on the site Houston Texas Real Estate, which can be found at www.houstontexasrealestate.com,and I write articles specifically for investors on http://www.investornationblog.com

State of Texas

Insurance estimates: http://www.tdi.state.tx.us

Housing Program:http://www.tdhca.state.tx.us

Real Estate Comission: www.trec.state.tx.us

City Of Houston

Housing program and affordable lenders: http://www.houstonhousing.org

Electricity providers: http://www.houstonconsumerchoice.com

Energy savings:http://www.houstonpowertopeople.com

Disaster Preparedness: http://www.houstontx.gov/oem/

Remember 911 is for emergencies only; you should call the police, fire department, or hospital for a non-emergency situation. Call 311 to report water leaks, non-functioning lights, road damage, or other problems related to city services. Call 211 if you need help evacuating during a disaster.

Other helpful websites:

Houston Real Estate http://www.signaturehouston.com Houston’s most innovative real estate company that specializes in Houston investment properties like bank foreclosures and HUD Homes.

Texas Homes For Sale –  Texas Homes For Sale. Search for Houses, Condos, Condominiums, Multi Families and Townhouses for sale throughout Texas

Gardening Guide:http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/growgreen/

Restaurant guide: http://www.b4-u-eat.com

Energy efficiency with Energy Star: http://www.energystar.gov

Crime statistics provided by an individual not affiliated with the city or the police force: http://houstoncrimemaps.com

Texas Affordable Housing Corporation: http://www.tsahc.org

Disaster Preparedness from the Department of Homeland Security:http://www.ready.gov

For information on radiant underfloor heating, check out radiantheatpro.com

You can check out my profile on Thumbtack Houston Home Inspector