The Move Live Love TX Team

10/22/2026

Why a 2-1 Rate Buydown Beats a Price Reduction | Buy Before Rates Drop (Houston 2026)

Peter Royster of The Move Live Love TX Team™ and Matt Brown of Encompass Lending Group explain why right now may be one of the smartest times to buy a home in Houston, and how a 2-1 rate buydown can put more money back in your pocket each month than a price reduction ever could.

Most buyers ask the seller to knock a few thousand dollars off the price. But that same money spent on a 2-1 buydown lowers your interest rate for the first two years, so you feel the savings every single month. In this Mortgage Update, Peter and Matt break down:

✅ How a 2-1 rate buydown works, in plain English
✅ Why it beats a price reduction on your monthly payment
✅ How to also ask the seller for repairs while you have negotiating power
✅ Why buying now lets you beat the crowd of buyers who will rush back in once rates come down
✅ What to ask your lender before you write an offer

Right now, buyers have room to negotiate. When rates drop, that window can close fast, with more competition, multiple offers, and less leverage. This is your chance to get ahead of it.

Ready to talk strategy? We serve, we do not sell.

📞 Call or text Peter & Vicky: 713-805-6247
🌐 movelivelovetx.com
🏡 Matt Brown, Encompass Lending Group: [add Matt’s phone/link + NMLS #]

The Move Live Love TX Team™ | Family First. Texas Roots. We’ve Got You Covered.™

This video is for educational purposes only and is not a commitment to lend. Rates, terms, and programs are subject to change and borrower qualification.

#2-1Buydown

https://youtu.be/LYUtzHXdGKU

Understanding a mortgage update and how a rate buydown can impact y...

10/21/2026

Houston Realtors Take on California… and a Tesla Trunk! 😂

Well, our California real estate conference adventure is off to an interesting start! 😂

Peter, Vicky, and Erin arrived with enough luggage to make our Tesla Uber driver question our packing skills!

The trunk was completely FULL, which meant Peter got to enjoy a 45-minute ride with a carry-on suitcase in his lap. Meanwhile, Vicky and Erin were in the back trying not to laugh!

We hadn't even made it to the conference yet, and we're already making memories!

Who else packs like they're moving instead of going to a conference? 🧳🤣

10/20/2026

Are You a Houston Veteran Ready to Use Your VA Loan? Here’s How to Get Your Certificate of Eligibility Fast.

If you’re a veteran thinking about buying a home in Houston, this is the one step most people don’t fully understand — and it can either keep your timeline on track or throw it completely off.

Your VA Certificate of Eligibility. Here’s what you need to know.

There are three ways to get it — and they are not equally fast.

The fastest route is to ask a VA-approved lender to pull it through the VA’s WebLGY system. Most of the time it comes back in minutes. While you’re still on the phone with them.

You can also request it yourself on VA.gov — but only if your service records are already updated in the VA’s system. If they’re not, it stalls with no real explanation, which is where veterans get frustrated.

The third option is mailing in Form 26-1880. That can take several weeks. We only see veterans end up there when something in a service record needs a human being to sort out by hand.

One more thing I want every veteran to hear. Your COE is not your loan approval. It confirms you meet the VA’s service requirement and shows your remaining entitlement. Your credit, your income, your debt-to-income ratio — those are separate conversations that happen after. A COE is the starting line, not the finish line.

And if you’re still months out from a move — ask a lender to pull your COE now. A records gap caught early is a problem we can fix. One caught at closing is a crisis.

Drop the word "VETERAN" in the comments right now if this applies to you or someone you know. I read every single one and I will personally reach out with everything you need to get started.

We’re Peter and Vicky Royster — The Move Live Love TX Team™. Vicky is a certified Military Relocation Professional (MRP) and we have served veterans and military families right here in Houston for 28+ years. This benefit belongs to you. Let us help you use it.

📲 713-805-6247 | 🌐 www.movelivelovetx.com/post/va-certificate-of-eligibility-coe-houston

10/19/2026

The World Is Searching Houston Homes — Here Are the Top 10 Countries According to HAR Q3 2026!

We knew Houston was a global city. But this HAR Q3 2026 data makes it impossible to ignore.

Nearly 1.2 million unique international visitors searched Houston homes on HAR.com in a single quarter — July through September 2026. Here is the official countdown based on Matomo Analytics:

🌍 #10 Singapore — 58,704
🌍 #9 India — 76,738
🌍 #8 Ecuador — 69,514
🌍 #7 Canada — 84,591
🌍 #6 Mexico — 90,404
🌍 #5 Colombia — 119,311
🌍 #4 United Kingdom — 117,305
🌍 #3 Philippines — 105,201
🌍 #2 Brazil — 171,777
🌍 #1 China — 221,238

Energy professionals from Singapore and the UK. Filipino healthcare workers drawn to the Texas Medical Center. Colombian and Brazilian families researching the Energy Corridor. Chinese families prioritizing Katy ISD. Canadian snowbirds comparing Houston to Florida. Nearly every corner of the globe is looking at this city.

And why Houston? No state income tax. A median home price of $330,000. One of the most diverse cities in the entire world. World-class medical care, top-rated school districts, incredible food and culture — at a price point that makes cities like London, São Paulo, Beijing, and Bogotá look expensive by comparison.

We are Peter and Vicky Royster — homegrown Houston agents with 28+ years helping families from around the world land in Houston the right way. We know every neighborhood, every school district, and every community in this metro.

Texas Roots. Family Focus. We’ve got you covered!

📲 (713) 805-6247 | 🌐 movelivelovetx.com

What country are you watching from — and what surprised you most about Houston’s real estate market? Tell us in the comments 👇

Source: HAR Q3 2026 | Matomo Analytics | July–September 2026

10/15/2026

This is the question keeping Houston homeowners up at night right now — and I want to give you a straight answer.

Should you sell your current home first… or buy your next one first?

Sell first and you know exactly what you have — your equity, your budget, and real negotiating power in a market with nearly 39,000 active listings. But you might end up without a place to land.

Buy first and you move once on your timeline. But now you are carrying two mortgages until your current home sells — and in a market where homes are averaging 39 days on market, that gap can feel very long.

Here’s the truth. This is not a coin flip. It’s a math problem specific to your equity, your reserves, and your timeline. And I want to help you solve it.

Comment "MOVE" below or reach out directly — let’s run your numbers together before you make either move.

📞 (713) 805-6247
🌐 www.movelivelovetx.com

10/14/2026

If Your Builder Went Bankrupt Tomorrow, Would You Get Your Deposit Back? Most Texans Don’t Know the Answer.

Here’s something that surprises almost every custom home buyer we talk to — Texas has no law requiring your builder to hold your deposit in a protected escrow account. If that money is sitting in their operating account and they go under mid-construction, you’re not first in line to get it back. You’re behind their bank, their suppliers, and every subcontractor they owe.

In this week’s "Wish I’d Known" Wednesday, we walk through the three things you need in your builder contract before you ever wire a dollar — third-party escrow tied to construction milestones, a clear default and refund clause, and on large projects, a performance bond.

Share this with anyone you know who’s about to sign a builder contract.

And drop a comment below — did this surprise you?

📞 (713) 805-6247 | movelivelovetx.com | The Move Live Love TX Team™ | CB&A Realtors

10/13/2026

Your Smoke Detector Has an Expiration Date — When Did You Last Check Yours?

I’m going to put you on the spot for a second.

When was the last time you took your smoke detector down and looked at the back of it?

Most Houston homeowners have never done it. And here’s what they don’t know — smoke detectors expire. Every single unit needs to be fully replaced every ten years. Not just the battery. The whole detector.

There’s a manufacture date printed right on the back of every unit in your home. If that date is more than ten years ago, that detector is done. It may look fine. It may even beep when you test it. But the sensor inside has degraded and it may not protect your family the way it should.

Nearly 20% of smoke detectors in American homes right now are non-working. And according to State Farm, the average home fire insurance claim is $57,000.

This week is "National Fire Prevention Week". So here’s what I want you to do today. Walk through your home. Check every detector. Write down the dates. Any that are ten years or older — replace them. They cost $10 to $20 each. That is the cheapest insurance you will ever buy.

When you’re done, come back and drop a comment telling me what year yours was made. I read every single one. And if you find one that’s expired, tell me — because I promise somebody reading this right now is overdue and doesn’t know it.

We’re Peter and Vicky Royster — The Move Live Love TX Team™. Homegrown Houston agents with 28+ years in this market. We care about the people in these homes as much as we care about the homes themselves. Please share this with someone you love today.

📲 713-805-6247 | 🌐 www.movelivelovetx.com

10/13/2026

What if one of the biggest advantages of your next home wasn't something you could see, but something you could SAVE?

At 12542 Sabine Point Dr. in Humble, TX, the homeowners had an electricity bill of just $6.94 for August 2026! Yes, during a Houston summer!

Here's what makes this home different:

☀️ Fully paid-off solar panels
🔋 TWO fully paid-off Tesla Powerwalls
🏡 Located in the gated Sabine Pointe section of Balmoral
🌴 Access to Balmoral's Lagoon and Beach Club amenities
💰 Energy features that could help reduce your monthly electricity expenses

And the best part? The solar panels and Tesla Powerwalls are already paid for!

When you're shopping for a home, affordability isn't only about the purchase price. It's also about what that home costs you every month.

Would a $6.94 August electricity bill get YOUR attention? Tell us below!

10/12/2026

HAR Just Revealed the Top 10 Cities Searching Houston Homes Right Now — Is Your City on the List?

HAR released their Q3 2026 report on the top cities outside Texas searching for homes on HAR.com — and if you have been thinking about making a move to Houston, you are not alone. Not even close.

Here is the official countdown based on Matomo Analytics data from July through September 2026:

🏙️ #10 — Charlotte, NC
🏙️ #9 — Phoenix, AZ
🏙️ #8 — Charleston, SC
🏙️ #7 — Miami, FL
🏙️ #6 — New Orleans, LA
🏙️ #5 — Denver, CO
🏙️ #4 — Atlanta, GA
🏙️ #3 — Chicago, IL
🏙️ #2 — New York, NY
🏙️ #1 — Los Angeles, CA

People from the most expensive cities in America are searching Houston because the math is undeniable.

No state income tax. Median home price of $330,000. Nearly 39,000 active listings. A world-class city with top medical care, incredible food, professional sports, and a quality of life that competes with any major city in the country — at a fraction of the cost.

A Los Angeles family saves over $27,000 a year in state income taxes alone by moving to Texas. A Chicago family eliminates nearly $10,000 a year in Illinois state income tax. A New York buyer finds a median Houston home at $330,000 and cannot believe what their budget gets them.

If your city is on this list — or if you are thinking about making a move to Houston from anywhere in the country — we are the team you want in your corner. We have been helping families relocate to the Greater Houston area for over 20 years. We know every neighborhood, every community, and every price point across this entire metro.

Drop your city in the comments below — we would love to know where you are moving from!

Texas Roots. Family Focus. We’ve got you covered!

📲 (713) 805-6247
🌐 www.movelivelovetx.com

Source: HAR Q3 2026 Top Cities Searching HAR.com | Matomo Analytics