Blake Taylor - Houston Real Estate

Blake Taylor - Houston Real Estate Corporate commercial roots. Now helping Houston buy, sell, and lease.

08/05/2026

The home inspection report just came back. Now what? 👇

This is the part of the buying process that trips people up most often. The inspection found issues. Some minor, some not. And now you have to decide what to do with that information before your option period expires.

Here is how to approach it:

🔍 Separate the big from the small. Inspectors flag everything from missing outlet covers to foundation concerns. Not every item is worth negotiating. Focus on safety issues, major systems like roof, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical, and anything that represents a significant cost to repair. Small cosmetic items are generally not worth the friction.

💰 Know what you are actually asking for. You have a few options. You can ask the seller to make specific repairs before closing. You can ask for a credit at closing so you handle the repairs yourself. Or you can ask for a price reduction. A credit or price reduction can be cleaner since you control the quality of the work.

📋 Get repair estimates first. Before you ask for a dollar amount, know what things actually cost. An HVAC replacement in Houston is a very different conversation than a faucet repair. Your agent can help you get ballpark numbers quickly.

⚠️ Pick your battles. Going back to the seller with a list of 40 items signals that you are a difficult buyer and can poison the negotiation. Prioritize the three to five things that genuinely matter and let the rest go.

🚪 Know your exit. If what came back is serious enough that no credit or repair makes the deal workable, you can still terminate during the option period and walk away with your earnest money. That option exists for exactly this reason.

A good agent will help you read the inspection report strategically and negotiate in a way that protects your interests without blowing up the deal. That is the job.

Questions about buying in Houston? DM me anytime. 🏡

08/04/2026

Let's talk about Willowbend. 🏡

Tucked just outside the 610 Loop in southwest Houston, Willowbend is one of those neighborhoods that quietly delivers everything buyers say they want. Character, convenience, community, and a price point that still makes sense.

Here is what makes it stand out:

📍 Quick access to Loop 610, Beltway 8, and US-90. Downtown Houston, the Texas Medical Center, the Galleria, and Rice Village are all within a short drive. For Medical Center employees especially, the location is nearly unbeatable.

🌳 Established in the mid-1950s, Willowbend has the kind of mature tree canopy that takes decades to grow. Streets lined with willow oaks and magnolias give the neighborhood a character that newer suburbs simply cannot replicate.

🏠 A mix of well-maintained mid-century ranch style homes, tastefully updated traditional properties, and new construction townhomes. Median sale prices have risen over 14% year over year, a strong signal of sustained demand.

🥾 The Willow Waterhole Greenway offers over 15 miles of trails as part of a 300-acre greenspace and flood management system. For buyers who want walkable nature access inside the loop, this is a genuine differentiator.

🏫 Zoned to Houston ISD including Bellaire High School, one of the most academically respected high schools in Texas with an A rating and a long-running International Baccalaureate program.

📋 Deed restricted community with the Willowbend Civic Club maintaining community standards, giving buyers the confidence that neighborhood character is protected.

Right at the loop, mature trees, strong schools, trail access, and prices that have not yet hit the ceiling. Willowbend is worth a serious look.

Curious about what is available? DM me and let's take a look together. 👇🏡

08/03/2026

If you are thinking about selling your home in Houston, here is something worth knowing before you type your address into Zillow. 👇

A recent survey of real estate professionals found that 91% trust MLS data most for pricing information. Fewer than 1% trust public portals.

That gap exists for a reason.

MLS data includes the actual sold price, the days on market, price reductions, concessions, and the full history of every comparable transaction in your area. Public portals work from incomplete data, delayed reporting, and algorithms that cannot see inside your home.

Two houses on the same street can look identical in a database and sell for $50,000 different prices based on updates, condition, lot position, and a dozen other factors no algorithm accounts for.

Sellers today are coming to listing appointments more informed than ever. They have run the numbers on three different websites and have a price in mind before the conversation starts. That is not a bad thing. Being informed is good.

The issue is when an online estimate becomes an anchor that overrides what the actual market data shows. Overpriced homes sit. They take price cuts. They accumulate days on market that signal to every buyer that something is off.

A Comparative Market Analysis built from real MLS data, pulled by someone who has actually seen your home, is still the most accurate pricing tool available.

Thinking about selling in Houston? DM me before you make any decisions based on what a website told you your home is worth. 🏡

07/31/2026

There is a document most buyers glance at and set aside during closing that deserves a lot more attention. It is called a survey and in Texas it is one of the most important things you will receive. 👇

Here is what it actually is and why it matters:

📋 A survey is a legal document prepared by a licensed surveyor that shows the exact boundaries of the property you are buying, where the structures sit on the lot, and any encroachments or easements that affect the land.

🔍 What can a survey reveal?

Encroachments: a fence, driveway, or structure that crosses the property line either onto your land or onto a neighbor's. This matters because it can create legal disputes down the road.

Easements: areas of your property where utilities, the city, or neighboring landowners have the legal right to access. You own the land but you may not be able to build on it.

Setback violations: structures that were built too close to the property line and may not comply with deed restrictions or local ordinances.

💰 In Texas the seller often provides an existing survey from when they purchased the home. If it is recent enough and nothing has changed the title company may accept it. If not, a new survey will be ordered, typically costing $400 to $600.

⚠️ Always read your survey before you close. If there is an encroachment or easement that concerns you, raise it during the option period while you still have the most leverage to address it.

One of the less glamorous parts of buying a home but one of the most important. DM me if you have questions about buying in Houston. 🏡

07/30/2026

AI can tell you what your neighbor's house sold for. It cannot tell you what yours is actually worth. There is a real difference. 👇

Automated valuation tools and AI chatbots are getting better every year. But they all share the same fundamental limitation. They only know what is in the public record.

Two homes on the same street. Same square footage. Same year built. On paper they look identical. But one has a completely renovated kitchen, a new roof, updated HVAC, and a landscaped backyard that took years to build. The other has not been touched since 2003.

An AI sees the same house. An experienced local agent does not.

Here is what actually drives the difference in what a home sells for:

🔑 Updates and renovations not captured in public records
🌳 Lot position, backyard, and curb appeal
🏫 Specific school zone within a district
🏗️ Builder reputation in a new construction community
📍 Which side of a street, which section of a neighborhood
🚗 Proximity to noise, traffic, or commercial development

A 2024 survey found 51% of sellers who used AI asked it to evaluate their agent's suggested price. And 43% used it to question their agent's advice. That is completely understandable. It also means some of those sellers may have left money on the table or overpriced themselves into a long, frustrating listing.

Price it right from day one and the market rewards you. Overprice based on a number a computer generated without ever seeing your home and the market will tell you quickly.

Thinking about selling in Houston? DM me before you ask an AI. 🏡

07/29/2026

A new national survey just came out and one finding stopped me in my tracks. 👇

Housing affordability is now the number one political concern for Americans ages 18 to 34. It ranked above the cost of groceries. Above protecting democracy.

Let that land for a second.

The generation that should be entering their prime homebuying years is more worried about being able to afford a home than almost anything else happening in the country right now.

People who did everything right. Got the degree, got the job, saved the money. And still feel like homeownership is moving further away instead of closer.

Here is what I want that generation to know specifically about Houston.

Our median home price is $345,000 compared to a national median of $408,000. Houston affordability has improved in 20 of the past 23 months. We have more inventory than the national average giving buyers more negotiating leverage. And nearly half of sellers right now are offering concessions including help with closing costs.

Houston is not the easiest market in the country. But compared to almost everywhere else people want to live, it is one of the most accessible.

If you are in that 18 to 34 range and feel like homeownership is out of reach, I would love to show you what it actually looks like in this city. DM me and let's run the real numbers. 🏡

07/28/2026

Let's talk about Alvin, Texas. 🏡

About 30 miles south of Downtown Houston in Brazoria County, Alvin is one of those communities that keeps quietly delivering for buyers who know where to look. And right now the numbers make a strong case.

Here is what stands out:

📍 Situated along Highway 35 with access to Highway 288 and I-45. The Texas Medical Center, NASA's Johnson Space Center, and the Port of Houston are all within reasonable commuting distance making this a smart location for a wide range of professionals.

💰 Median home price around $342,000 with an average price per square foot of $187. For buyers who want genuine value without sacrificing space or quality, Alvin consistently delivers.

🏡 A diverse mix of housing options from established ranch style homes and acreage properties to new construction communities. Builders like Coventry Homes are actively putting up new inventory right now with quick move-in options available.

🌳 Alvin has a genuine small town character that larger suburbs have lost. Local events, a tight-knit community feel, and enough space to breathe without feeling isolated from the city.

⚾ Alvin is the hometown of Nolan Ryan. Not a real estate fact but worth knowing if you are an Astros fan moving to town.

🏫 Served by Alvin ISD which has seen steady growth and investment as the area's population continues to expand.

For buyers who want more home, more land, and more value without going too far from Houston's employment centers, Alvin deserves a serious look.

Curious about what is available right now? DM me and let's explore it together. 👇🏡

07/27/2026

Something just shifted in the new construction market and most Houston buyers have no idea it happened. 👇

For the first time in years new construction homes are now selling for less per square foot than existing homes nationally. New homes averaged $209.70 per square foot in May compared to $213.20 for existing homes. A $3.50 discount that sounds small but represents a complete reversal from before the pandemic when new construction commanded a $15 to $22 premium over existing homes.

Here is why that matters for Houston buyers right now:

🏗️ You get brand new everything. New roof, new systems, new appliances, builder warranty. No wondering what the previous owners left behind or what a home inspection might turn up.

💰 Builders are motivated. With inventory elevated and buyers being selective, many Houston builders are offering rate buydowns, closing cost assistance, and free upgrades that would have been unthinkable in 2021 and 2022.

🔑 Move-in ready without the renovation headache. 43% of new construction buyers say the top reason they chose new was that it did not require repairs or updates. In Houston's summer heat that is a very compelling argument.

⚠️ One thing to remember. You still need your own agent when buying new construction. The builder's rep works for the builder. Having someone in your corner costs you nothing and could save you a lot.

New construction is worth a serious look right now. DM me before you walk into your first model home. 🏡

07/24/2026

Houston real estate Week 28 numbers just dropped and there are a few things worth paying attention to. 👇

45,032 showings for the week, up 3.2% year over year. Buyers are still actively touring homes across Houston.

Closings down just 0.6% year over year. Essentially flat. Deals are still getting done.

Off market listings down 12.1%. That one matters. Fewer homes are being pulled from the market or expiring, which means sellers are pricing closer to where the market actually is.

Open houses up. New listings coming in. The market is active heading into late July.

Pending sales are still running negative year over year but the trend has been improving steadily over the past month when you strip out the holiday weeks. Buyers are cautious but they are moving.

The summer Houston market in 2026 looks like this: serious buyers are finding real opportunities, sellers who price right are closing deals, and the economic foundation underneath all of it is as strong as it has been in years.

Questions about what is happening in a specific neighborhood or price range? DM me. That is exactly what I am here for. 🏡

07/23/2026

Houston renters, this number is worth paying attention to. 👇

According to HAR's June 2026 rental market report, the average lease price for a single family home in Houston is $2,388 a month. That number is essentially flat compared to last year, which tells you renters have more stability and more options than they did a couple of years ago.

But here is where it gets interesting.

A buyer purchasing a median priced home in Houston at $345,000 with 20% down at today's rate of 6.49% is looking at a principal and interest payment of roughly $1,740 a month.
That is roughly $650 less per month than the average single family rental.

Now yes, homeownership comes with property taxes, insurance, and maintenance costs that renters do not carry directly. Run those numbers honestly and the gap narrows. But the equity you are building every single month does not exist in a rental. Not one dollar of that $2,388 comes back to you.

Houston rental inventory is up and renters have more choices right now than they have had in years. That is actually a good time to take a breath, run the numbers carefully, and figure out whether buying makes more sense than renewing.

Want to see what the payment actually looks like on homes that fit your life in Houston? DM me and let's find out together. 🏡

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