The effective date is the date all parties sign. What date do you start counting as day one?

Day 1 begins on the following day.

How & when is a best answer chosen?

The person posting the question typically picks the \"best answer\". Can happen anytime or not happen at all (which seems to be most of the questions posted by the public and Realtors).\n\nMark McNitt\nMarkKnowsHouston.com\n832-567-4357\nBernstein Realty

Now that we can immediately file for homestead exemption what is the best time to apply for exemption? Say the seller had senior & homestead in place when house was bought. Would buyer be better to wait gaining the home’s lower valuation? Or apply after closing getting new appraised value?

Hey Joe, Great Question. If a property already has a homestead exemption in place, it remains valid for the entire year. Filing your own homestead exemption provides an immediate benefit. However, the existing exemptions will remain until the previous owner transfers them to their new property or the appraisal district updates the records. If you wait and later find the old exemptions have been removed, you can still file your homestead exemption, and it will be applied retroactively for a certain period based on local rules. I hope this helps.

In evaluating real estate agents for our home purchase, it was brought to our attention that a showing service fee would be charged to us for viewing properties during the process. No limit would be imposed on how many we would be shown but it felt strange/unethical since we did not hear of this fee upfront in any of the other meetings. Is this a common practice between real estate agents and buyers or an imposed proposition by this particular agents brokerage?

No it is not normal. Would think that would show greed on the agent part. There are a few circumstances where the listing agent is only paying $200.00-2.5% and the time spent is not profitable for the agent. That would be worked out in the buyers agreement. Have never went back and ask for what was in the agreement when there was very little income made. If we were not able to close on a house there is not any income to be received. It is part of business.

How do I search for one story, patio homes with zero lot line?

Call me, are call a Realtor we can all locate you houses with whatever criteria you are looking for.

The upstairs needs new carpet.

Carpet allowance makes about as much cents as telling the renter to have the carpet cleaned before they move in. How many days on market do you think that took the landlord to lease a dirty worn out smelly carpet. Lets not be lazy here replace and repaint or open up for negotiations with investors and low ballers where you loose. Understand this the retail buyers buy on emotions, not with good cents or the over asking price deals would not exists. How many bid wars for over asking price do you know of that investors to get into. I ain\'t gonna make any cents on this house with the nasty carpet. will make money on steal deal not cents. Show deals with deferred maintance that allows for larger equity capture that makes no cents for seller and mr. investors makes $$$. REPLACE the CARPET or price and sell as is.