Michele Jacobs is the Realtor/owner of Jacobs Realty Group in the Bay Area.

Every week, we ask a Houston real estate professional for their thoughts on the top three stories from the week before.

This week, we talked with Michele Jacobs, the Realtor/owner of Jacobs Realty Group in Houston’s Bay Area.

Houston Agent (HA): Construction activity has been rising in recent months, and the latest numbers on home orders from the nation’s largest homebuilders were very promising. How have new home sales been in your area, and where do you see construction heading in 2012?

Michele Jacobs (MJ): New home sales have increased quite more than last year. My daughter works for Gehan Homes, a luxury community in The Penisula located on the water in League City, off Davis Road. She has sold seven luxury homes over $500,000 just in the last few months. That is very exciting!

HA: In a recent survey, 59 percent of agents reported higher buyer interest in 2012; is that consistent with your business?

MJ: 2012 buyer interest is much higher than the last couple of years – praise God! The interest rates are quite attractive, which is getting the attention of buyers. I closed one yesterday at 3.5 percent and one last week under 3 percent; that is incredible. I remember the days of 18 percent!  Sure affords a buyer more house at the low interest rates!

HA: Finally, do you engage in blogging or other kinds of new, more social media platforms? What benefits do they provide agents?

MJ: Facebook and Twitter are the main ones I blog with daily. I find I don’t have much more time to manage than those two. I really think that the benefit of Twitter is that I can post on Twitter and it goes on Facebook. Then people on Facebook can make comments. Being the owner of Jacobs Realty Group, I also have a Facebook for my company. I’m always open for any easy breezy ideas from other Realtors on their blogging preferences.

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