48 episodes on mortgage rates, property taxes, HOAs, squatters, insurance costs, and the rankings that show where people are actually moving.
The housing market is the one homeowner topic you cannot fix with a tool. It happens to you, and then you decide what to do about it. Craig and Kevin have been reading it out loud since 2019, usually with a real number in front of them and no patience for a headline that falls apart under a second question.
Start with rates, because everything else moves when they do. Lender Haley Thayer walked through the 2022 climb, thin inventory, FHA down payments, and whether a 40 year mortgage makes any sense. Richard Yeppez of Next Mortgage explained Fed rate hikes, the credit shopping window, and the difference between a hard and a soft credit pull. Agent Christi Finnell and lender Joel Suurmeyer read the 2021 seller market live, appraisal gaps and leasebacks included.
Then the part of the market your county decides. Harris County approved an 8 percent property tax increase using a disaster loophole and no vote. Superintendent Mark Ruffin came on to explain Montgomery ISD Prop A, a 4.3 million dollar deficit, and Texas recapture law. Oak Ridge North mayor Jimmy Kuykendall covered MUD districts, water rates and roof ordinances. And the show went live to a downtown Conroe protest over vendor permit fees and Crichton Theater spending.
The stories are here too, and they are the ones people repeat. Elizabeth Hirschhorn stayed in an Airbnb guest house for 575 days without paying. Florida gutted its squatter protections. The federal eviction moratorium ended. The 21st Century Road to Housing Act arrived with loopholes wide enough to drive an institutional investor through. There are two full episodes of HOA horror stories, including a fine over pink flamingos and a pet pig that went to court.
The rankings round it out: fastest growing cities, most abandoned cities, and a WalletHub list of 182 cities sorted by happiness. Start wherever your question is.
If you came here with one specific question rather than an afternoon to browse, these guides answer it in writing and then show you the episodes behind the answer.
Craig and Kevin have a guest in the studio this week: Jessi Cowart, a lifelong Montgomery County resident from Oak Ridge North who is running for Texas House District 15 as a Libertarian. The seat is open because Steve Toth is running for Congress, and Jessi says that if she wins she would be the first Libertarian ever seated in the Texas House.
This episode of The Homeowner Show dives into a wide array of current events and hot topics. Hosts Kevin Hackett and Craig Williams kick things off by discussing the sweltering heat and its impact on outdoor work.
The Homeowner Show kicks off with a lighthearted, albeit slightly gross, discussion about an infestation of flies and a spider web in their studio, a stark contrast to the more serious topics that follow. This initial banter quickly transitions to personal anecdotes about home maintenance and repairs.
The video discusses the current state of home affordability and related financial challenges. The speakers touch upon the increased costs associated with homeownership, including rising insurance premiums and the general impact of inflation on everyday expenses.
The Homeowner Show: Episode 354 - Trends, Traditions, and Trouble! Welcome back to the Homeowner Show!
The Homeowner Show, episode 351, dives into the Houston Rodeo, exploring its appeal and the challenges of attending, from transportation woes to disappointing concert acoustics. The hosts debate the effectiveness of the "21st Century Road to Housing Act," a bipartisan bill aimed at limiting institutional ownership of residential properties, while expressing skepticism about government intervention in housing affordability.
The video documents a live broadcast from downtown Conroe, where a group of concerned citizens and small business owners are gathered to protest what they perceive as unfair practices by local leaders. The main issues discussed revolve around increased property taxes, fraudulent debt, and significantly raised fees that are forcing small, "mom and pop" businesses out of the area.
Episode Introduction This episode of The Homeowners Show features hosts Kevin Hackett and Craig Williams discussing current trends in the housing market, personal finance related to homeownership, and a practical DIY project. Real Estate Market Update Mortgage Rates: Rates have dropped to their lowest point since 2023, falling below 6% and even reaching 5.9% for some loans.
The video is episode number 343 of the Homeowner Show, hosted by Kevin Hackett and Craig Williams. They begin by discussing the end of the year and the approaching new year, reflecting on the past year's accomplishments and takeaways.
Scam Companies Exposed, HOAs Under Fire, and College Football Rivalries! In Episode 334 of The Homeowner Show, hosts Kevin Hackett and Craig Williams tackle a wide array of topics crucial for today’s homeowners.
Show Notes for Episode 332 of the Homeowner Show Episode Title: Episode 332 - The Homeowner Show Hosts: Kevin Hackett and Craig Williams Episode Highlights: Introduction: Kevin Hackett and Craig Williams welcome listeners to the 332nd episode of the Homeowner Show. They aim to provide valuable information for both DIY enthusiasts and those looking to hire professionals.
x In this episode Craig and Kevin get to hang out with a realtor, mortgage broker, and title company. These people are experts in their industry, and you need each branch in order to buy a home.
12 Most Affordable American Cities In this episode Craig and Kevin look at a recent report from Zillow on the most affordable cities in America. You might be surprised at the list, but we think it’s very telling about our economy.
Montgomery ISD Prop A with Superintendent Mark Ruffin In this episode Craig and Kevin interview Montgomery, TX ISD Superintendent, Dr. Mark Ruffin about Prop A.
For once Craig and Kevin get grilled! This time by the one and only Eric G from Around the House podcast and radio show.
Scandalous 8% Property Tax Hike In this episode Craig and Kevin talk about something that people in Houston are outraged over, which is an 8% property tax that was approved. There are major implications to lots of people and businesses across Harris County.
In this episode Craig and Kevin discuss the lawsuit and results of the National Association of Realtors. It’s a bit complicated, but there are a lot of implications.
Harris vs. Trump Housing and The Stock Market Crash In this episode Craig and Kevin discuss the fact that Harris has taken over for Biden, and the implications that has for Americans and housing.
Desantis Revokes Squatter’s Rights, John Stewart’s Real Estate Scandal, and HGTV is Ruining America In this episode Craig and Kevin talk about three viral videos that you need to see. Desantis makes huge headlines as he is revoking rights of squatters (which we will take full credit for), and Trump is getting accused by John Stewart of a real estate scandal that Stewart also participated in, and yep, HGTV is ruining American and we can tell you why.
Ryobi Swift Clean Review and Other News In this episode Craig and Kevin review the Ryobi Swift Clean, a new handheld furniture and carpet shampooer. Compact and lightweight, this shampooer will go places your typical carpet shampooer will not.
Trip Report and Commercial Real Estate Shocker In this episode Craig and Kevin talk about the recent freeze in Houston and give a trip report on Craig’s trip to Branson. But, the most shocking part of the conversation is our stats we’re going to discuss regarding the commercial real estate state.
In this episode Craig and Kevin continue the saga about squatters. In an unbelievable story, you’ll hear about Elizabeth Hirschhorn who squatted in an AirBNB in a man’s guest house for 575 days!
Kevin O’Leary and The Collapse of the Real Estate Market In this episode Craig and Kevin talk about an article by Kevin O’Leary in which he describes his thoughts on the collapse of the real estate market. While this is concerning in and of itself, why are we talking about it on The Homeowners Show?
Are you at a crossroads, torn between buying a house and renting an apartment? The world of real estate can be a maze of decisions, and in this episode, we're your trusty guides through the complex landscape.
Squatters and Tools In this episode Craig and Kevin talk about this new phenomenon of squatters taking over people’s rental properties and moving in! In fact, in one recent new story, the homeowner got arrested after the squatters called the cops on him.
In this episode Craig and Kevin talk about a crazy story a family of squatters who changed the locks on a rental and moved in. Then, we move into the story about how BRICS is trying to bring about a new type of currency that is looking to dethrone the dollar and euro.
In this episode Craig and Kevin talk about some real estate trends and statistics that have come out in June of 2023. It’s interesting to see how the trends are affecting sellers and buyers.
In this episode, Craig and Kevin interview Richard Yeppez, mortgage lender at Next Mortgage. As you probably know, the past year has seen a dramatic shift in the real estate world.
In this episode, Craig and Kevin talk about the top 5 small cities in the US. These cities must range between 25,000 and 100,000 in population, but still have that small town feel to them.
In this episode, Craig and Kevin talk about the top 5 fastest growing cities in the United States. We found a very interesting trend in this list.
In this episode, Craig and Kevin talk about the top 5 happiest places to live according to WalletHub. There are some really interesting trends we found in the list, and are curious to see what your thoughts are as well.
In this episode, Craig and Kevin go through a list that was put together by Wallet Hub of the top health and safety places to live if you have a family. Like all things on The Homeowners Show, we shoot straight with you and give you our honest opinions.
In this episode, Craig and Kevin go through a list that was put together by Wallet Hub of the top fun places to live if you have a family. Like all things on The Homeowners Show, we shoot straight with you and give you our honest opinions.
In this episode, Craig and Kevin talk about all the reasons your electric bill is high. There are some reasons that you will probably see higher prices on yours bills and we break that down for you.
In this Episode Craig sits down with Real Estate Agent Christi Finnell and her husband Scott to talk about all of the changes and how she's been helping local buyers get to know the Conroe Market. Sit back and enjoy this great conversation here on the Homeowners Show.
She’s back! Craig and Kevin get to talk again with Haley Thayer.
We are back at it sharing some more horror stories from our favorite entities, HOAs. While Homeowners Associations can be very helpful and keep property values high, they can also be a big pain.
Homeowner Associations, or HOAs, can be great. But, they can also be very frustrating.
In this episode, Craig and Kevin interview Freddie P and discuss the real estate market that we’re in today. Freddie P gives us a good look at what we can expect to see in the next few months, what the market is producing, and what interest rates are expected to do.
In this episode Craig and Kevin discuss how homes will be different post covid. As we all know, Covid came in and changed everything.
In this episode Craig sits down with Robert Irish from Goosehead Insurance. They dive into lots of updates in the insurance world including FEMA changes, real estate prices affecting coverage and costs of your policy and even how some companies are intentionally giving you less coverage.
EP 155 Show Notes In this episode Craig and Kevin walk through some research from the Texas A&M University Texas Real Estate Research Center that gives us some insight into what might happen in the real estate market in the coming years. While it’s difficult to know for sure what will happen, this list will give us a metric to look back on in the future.
For many months, there has been a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures in our nation. Covid has hit many people in many ways, and a lot of people were unable to pay their rent/mortgage.
Craig sits down for a long chat with Eric G from Around the House to talk about Lumber Prices and what the future looks like for your home improvement projects as well as the state of contractors in our respective states and even a little update on the Murder Hornets in the Pacific North West.
Part II of our live appearance where Craig abandons Kevin to have have a chat with returning guest Christi Finnell from The Woodlands Finest Realty Group and Joel Suurmeyer from TDECU Mortgage.
In this episode, Craig and Kevin play a game where we break down the top 3 things you should spend that stimulus check on in order increase the value of your home. The rules are simple, but the game is to spend the 5K that we’re allowed for this game to increase the lovability of your home.
In this episode, Craig and Kevin interview Freddy P who is a realtor. This isn’t your normal, everyday podcast on buying a house.
In this episode, Craig and Kevin interview Jim, the Mayor of Oak Ridge North, Texas. We discuss why it’s important to be involved in the community you live in, why you need to pay attention to your water bill, HOA’s, and more.
There is a lot more where that came from.
The archive runs to hundreds of episodes on foundations, HVAC, pests, hiring, insurance and everything else a house throws at you. New ones every week.