The Miner Team

GRI: Brokerage | Build Stronger Knowledge for Your Real Estate Business

Take a deeper look at the responsibilities, relationships, and business practices that shape a successful real estate career with GRI: Brokerage.

This four-day, live online course covers agency relationships, brokerage operations, professional standards, ethics, business development, and real-world situations REALTORS® may encounter.

📅 September 28 & 29 and October 1 & 2, 2026
⏰ 8:30 AM–5:00 PM CST
💻 Live online via Zoom
🎓 Course No. 779 | Provider #1 Texas REALTORS®
📚 10 CE Hours or 30 SAE Hours
💲 $250 Members | $250 Non-Members

⏳ Registration closes September 27, 2026 at 5:00 PM.

📧 Questions: [email protected]
📞 (512) 255-6211

Hosted by Five Points Board of REALTORS®

🔗 Registration link in the comments.

A Home Can Pass Inspection and Still Have Expensive Years Ahead

A home inspection can tell you a great deal about a property’s condition on the day it’s inspected. What it can’t guarantee is how long every major component will continue to perform.

That’s why buyers should look beyond whether something simply “works.”

Consider the age and condition of:
• HVAC systems
• Water heaters
• Roofing
• Major appliances
• Electrical components
• Plumbing systems

A 15-year-old system that is operating properly today may still deserve a place in your future budget.

This doesn’t necessarily make the home a poor choice. It simply gives you a more realistic picture of what ownership could cost during the first few years.

The inspection tells you about today’s condition. Smart planning also considers tomorrow’s replacements.

📩 Mary Miner, Broker Associate | Nextage Realty Group powered by LPT Realty

FREE Virtual Broker Responsibility Course | Course #09624-RENE

Join Mary Miner, Broker Associate with Nextage Realty Group powered by LPT Realty, for a live virtual Broker Responsibility course focused on the regulatory responsibilities involved in managing, operating, and supervising a Texas real estate brokerage.

📅 Thursday, October 22, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM–4:30 PM
💻 Virtual
💲 FREE
🎓 6-Hour Broker Responsibility Course

Topics include:

• Law of agency
• Business entity planning and organization
• Written brokerage policies and procedures
• Records retention and control
• Advertising requirements
• Agent recruitment and training
• TREC complaint procedures

This course is required for certain Texas brokers and delegated supervisors under TREC rules, and any licensee may attend.

🎤 Speaker: Mary Miner, Broker Associate with Nextage Realty Group powered by LPT Realty

🔗 Registration link is in the comments.

FREE Virtual Broker Responsibility Course | Course #09624-RENE

Join Mary Miner, Broker Associate with Nextage Realty Group powered by LPT Realty, for a live virtual Broker Responsibility course designed to cover the regulatory responsibilities involved in managing, operating, and supervising a Texas real estate brokerage.

📅 Thursday, September 24, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM–4:30 PM
💻 Virtual
💲 FREE
🎓 6-Hour Broker Responsibility Course

Topics include:

• Law of agency
• Brokerage policies and procedures
• Records retention and control
• Advertising requirements
• Agent recruitment and training
• Business organization and planning
• TREC complaint procedures

This course is required for certain Texas brokers and delegated supervisors under TREC rules, and any licensee may attend.

🎤 Speaker: Mary Miner, Broker Associate with Nextage Realty Group powered by LPT Realty

🔗 Registration link is in the comments.

Your Closing Date Can Change More Than Your Moving Day

Most sellers think of the closing date as the day they hand over the keys. But the date you close can also affect the final numbers on your settlement statement.

Depending on the transaction, timing can influence items such as:

• Mortgage interest through the payoff date
• Property tax prorations
• HOA dues or assessments
• Insurance or utility timing
• Temporary housing or storage costs
• When sale proceeds become available for your next purchase

A difference of several days may not sound significant, but when you’re coordinating a sale and another move, those days can affect both your finances and your logistics.

When reviewing an offer, don’t look only at price. The proposed closing date and possession terms deserve attention too.

📩 Mary Miner, Broker Associate | Nextage Realty Group powered by LPT Realty

That Extra Room May Not Be as “Official” as It Looks

A converted garage, enclosed patio, added bedroom, remodeled loft, or backyard structure can make a home much more appealing.

But buyers should ask an important question:

Was the work permitted when a permit was required?

Unpermitted or undocumented improvements can potentially create questions involving:

• Square footage records
• Electrical or plumbing work
• Insurance coverage
• Future renovations
• Appraisals or financing
• Resale to another buyer

Something that looks like finished living space during a showing may not necessarily appear the same way in public or appraisal records.

That doesn’t automatically mean you shouldn’t buy the property. It means it deserves a closer look before closing rather than after.

When buying a home, investigate not only what has been added—but how it was added.

📩 Contact Mary Miner, Broker Associate with Nextage Realty Group powered by LPT Realty, when you’re ready to start your home search.

Your Mortgage Balance Isn’t Necessarily Your Payoff Amount

When sellers estimate what they’ll walk away with after closing, they often subtract the mortgage balance they see on their monthly statement from the expected sale price.

But your mortgage balance and actual payoff amount may not be the same.

A lender’s payoff statement can include:

• Interest accrued through the payoff date
• Outstanding fees or charges
• A second mortgage or home-equity lien
• Other amounts tied to the loan
• Specific payoff and processing requirements

There may also be other items discovered during the title process that affect the seller’s final proceeds.

That’s why estimating your next-home budget based solely on the mortgage balance can sometimes create an unpleasant surprise.

Before making plans for the proceeds from your sale, understand the difference between what you owe today and what it will actually take to close out the loan.

📩 Contact Mary Miner, Broker Associate with Nextage Realty Group powered by LPT Realty, when you’re ready to discuss your selling strategy.