When purchasing a property, it is important to not let emotions dominate the decision. Buying property is a huge commitment, so take the time to do a careful evaluation before signing on the dotted line.

1. Location. Make sure the property is in a part of town that is safe, close to work, near shopping centers, amenities and schools, and easy to access.

2. Get to know the area. Talk to neighboring property owners to get to find out what they may know about the property or area that the seller did not mention.

3. Visit at different times of the day. Traffic and area activity have a significant impact on a property's value and viability.

4. Look at the improvements and determine their age and condition to see if they need to be replaced. Examine the ceilings and walls for signs of water damage, mold, or other negative affects of age or disrepair. Walk all around the property and examine it from every angle to make sure it's suitable for your purpose and not a property that will end up needing more repairs than its worth.

About the Author
Jerald Turboff is currently President of Prime Capital Corporation, a real estate brokerage and investment firm in Houston, Texas. Turboff collaborates with clients and partners to negotiate transactions for both commercial and residential real estate.                             

Texas is home to some of the nation’s most affordable housing, according to new real estate research. The state ranked in the top 10 in housing affordability in a recent national survey that looked at home prices across the United States. Only eight states, Nebraska, Iowa, Georgia, Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Mississippi, and Oklahoma, rated ahead of the Lone Star State. The state’s average list price for a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home stands at $186,144.

Within Texas, several cities rated high in affordability, including Terrell, which ranked 17th. Six other communities—Garland, Alvarado, Kaufman, Hartland, Duncanville, and Lancaster—rated among the nation’s 100 most affordable. The large cities of Dallas and Houston ranked 585 and 613, respectively.

The national study compared the average price of four-bedroom, two-bathroom homes for sale in 2,500 markets in the United States.

About Jerald Turboff: The President of Prime Capital Corporation, Jerald Turboff has spent more than four decades in the Texas real estate industry.                             

A real estate professional of more than two decades, Jerald Turboff leads Houston-based Prime Capital Corporation. As the company’s president, Jerald Turboff brokers commercial and residential transactions throughout the state.

Similar to a real estate agent, a broker possesses expertise in property sales and contract negotiations. However, a broker has completed real estate education beyond what is required of an agent. This prepares him or her to take the broker’s license exam. Upon successful completion of the assessment, a broker can launch his or her own business and hire agents to work therein.

All Texas brokers must be at least 18 years old and possess four years of experience as a licensed sales agent. Each must have completed 270 hours of qualifying real estate courses pertaining to law of agency, principles of real estate, and promulgated contract forms, among others. Additionally, the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) requires 30 hours of real estate brokerage courses. Submission of an application and fingerprints are necessary to receive approval to take the exam through Pearson VUE. Applicants must pass the examination within one year of their application’s filing with TREC.                             

A real estate professional with more than two decades of experience, Jerald Turboff currently acts as President of the Primate Capital Corporation. The firm has clients active in the residential and commercial real estate markets of Texas.
In 2012, the North Texas region experienced a more than 15 percent increase in single-family residences sold. The news gets even better, with median prices rising 8 percent over 2011's number, according to the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M as well as the North Texas Real Estate Information Systems. The increase, from the 2010 median of $130,000 to the current North Texas median of $162,000, means today's homeowners stand to earn tens of thousands of dollars more when they put their houses on the market.

At the lowest point of the housing collapse in 2010, North Texas posted sales of 63,832 units. In 2012, real estate professionals successfully sold more than 75,000 units, a drastic improvement in line with 2008's numbers but still below the 2006 apex of 85,000.