Posts

Buying a Country Home on a Septic System: What to Check

Outside of town in East Texas, most homes are not on city sewer. They use a septic system, and the condition of that system can make or break a good deal. A failing septic system is expensive to replace, and it is one of the things buyers forget to ask about. Here is what to check before you buy a country home. Know What Kind of System It Is In Texas, septic systems are called on site sewage facilities, and they are regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality along with local permitting authorities, often the county. There are two main types you will see. Conventional systems: a tank and a drain field that lets treated water soak into the ground. These work well in soils that drain. Aerobic systems: these use an air pump to treat the water and usually spray it onto the yard through sprinkler heads. They are common in areas with heavy clay or poor drainage. Aerobic systems generally require a maintenance contract. Ask the seller which type it is and how old it is. Check ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Moving a House Instead of Building One: Lessons From Pine Mills

Image
Earlier this year I got a good deal on a nice little frame house about two miles from Pine Mills, Texas. Instead of tearing it down or building new, we had it moved out to my land in Pine Mills. If you have ever wondered whether moving a house makes sense, here is what that project taught me and what I would tell anyone thinking about it. Why Move a House at All? A solid older frame house can cost far less than building new, especially when lumber, labor, and finish work are added up. Many older homes were built with good lumber, and the bones are often better than people expect. If you can buy one cheap and move it a short distance, you can end up with a lot of house for the money. It is not the right move for every house. Brick homes, large homes, and houses that are falling apart are usually not good candidates. A modest frame house in sound shape, moving a short distance, is the sweet spot. The Move Is Never as Smooth as You Hope Ours was not. The house rode so low on the truck tha...
Post a Comment
Read more

Getting an Older East Texas House Ready for Winter

East Texas winters are usually mild, but every few years we get a hard freeze that catches people off guard. Anyone who lived through the February 2021 winter storm remembers the burst pipes, the power outages, and the plumbers who were booked for weeks. Older houses took the worst of it. In Tyler, the average first fall frost comes around November 13 . That gives you about a month to get an older house ready. Here is a simple checklist, with a focus on the problems that show up most in older East Texas homes. 1. Protect the Pipes Under the House A lot of older homes around here sit on pier and beam foundations, and the water lines run through an open crawl space. That is where pipes freeze first. Crawl under the house, or have someone do it, and look for exposed supply lines. Wrap exposed pipes with foam pipe insulation, especially near outside walls and vents. Check that the skirting around the house is intact. Gaps and missing panels let cold wind blow right across the pipes. Close ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Putting a Storm Shelter in a Garage Floor: What One Day of Work Looks Like

Image
Spring in East Texas means storm season. Most years the sirens come and go and nothing happens close to home. But anyone who has lived here a while remembers the years when it did, and that is when people start asking about storm shelters. This past May I was on hand for an in-ground storm shelter install in a garage here in East Texas. I took photos through the day, and I want to walk through what it actually looked like. The process is simpler than most people expect, and there are a few things worth knowing before you call anyone. The shelter on install morning, before any digging started. Why the garage A below-ground shelter in the garage floor has a lot going for it. You can get to it without going outside, which matters when the wind is already blowing and the rain is coming sideways. It takes up very little room once it is in, because the lid sits flush with the floor and you can park right over it. And it does not change the look of the house or the yard. The tradeoff is that ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why Rural Land in East Texas Holds Value Better Than Most People Think

 Most people chasing real estate returns head straight for residential. Houses, rentals, something with a roof on it. What gets overlooked, especially in the current market, is rural land. Specifically smaller parcels in the 5 to 50 acre range in areas like East Texas. The fundamentals here are straightforward. Rural land has low carrying costs, no tenants, no maintenance calls at midnight, and no structure to depreciate. When residential markets get choppy, land tends to hold. It is not exciting. That is the point. I have seen this pattern play out across Wood County and the surrounding areas for years. Parcels that are priced right and properly cleared move. Buyers want privacy, space, and something they can actually use. That might be a weekend property, a place to hunt, or a long term hold. What drives value in this market is simple: road frontage, timber condition, flood zone status, and how the land presents from the road. None of those things are complicated to evaluate. Mos...
Post a Comment
Read more

How to Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck?

Image
  By Greg McKinney Mineola Texas Living paycheck by paycheck can be a difficult and stressful way to live. It can be hard to get ahead financially when you're only just getting by each month.   When you're barely making ends meet, it's tough to put any extra money away for savings as well. This can make it difficult to reach your financial goals, like buying a home or retiring comfortably.   It makes you more vulnerable to unforeseen events, like a job loss or medical emergency.   And the worst part is that it can be tough to break the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck, even if you're earning a decent income.   But with proper financial planning and some discipline, it is possible to stop living paycheck by paycheck and get on the path to financial security.   Let's find out more about how to stop living paycheck to paycheck. What Does It Mean to Live Paycheck by Paycheck? Living paycheck by paycheck means that your monthly income just co...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Dos and Don’ts of Applying for Mortgage Financing

Image
  By: Greg McKinney Mineola Texas Getting approved for a mortgage takes more than applying for the loan. There’s a process that all borrowers must go through to determine if they’re eligible. Lenders must determine you can afford the loan beyond a reasonable doubt, which means you must prove all of your qualifying factors.  It may feel overwhelming at first but understanding the mortgage process and what you should and shouldn’t do can help you get through the process easier.  The Do’s of Applying for Mortgage Financing   Here are all the things you should do if you want to buy a home. Following these tips will help you get to the closing table without too many issues faster.  1.     Do Check your Credit Before Applying for a Mortgage   You don’t need perfect credit to get a mortgage, but the higher your credit score, the better your loan terms and rates.  Get access to your free credit reports here and see if there’s anythi...
Post a Comment
Read more