The MAD Promise
Our Mission
To listen to your needs, to advocate for your results, and to care throughout the process.
Our Vision
To help every client transition from one stage of your life to the next.
Our Values
Integrity - Respect - Gratitude - Ambition - Responsibility
Our Promise
To provide a superior customer experience to every client by being honest, loyal, understanding, and attentive to your needs.
To make every effort to be proactive and limit surprises.
To always exceed expectations by being solution-based and to listen when there are opportunities to improve.
Meet Your Team Leaders
Melanie A. Dubendorff
Team Leader
Melanie Dubendorff is Greater Houston's veteran-focused real estate advisor — and the MAD in MAD Properties Group. Licensed since 2003, she has spent 23 years protecting the equity, outcomes, and interests of veteran homeowners, military families, and Greater Houston sellers navigating one of the most significant financial transactions of their lives.
Most agents market homes. Melanie focuses on protecting outcomes.
With credentials including AWREP (American Warrior Real Estate Professional), MRP (Military Relocation Professional), VA Loan Certified, ABR, CNE, AHWD, ALHS, RENE, and NHSAC, Melanie brings broker-level strategy to every listing and relocation. She has ranked in the top 5% of Houston-area Realtors every year since 2018 and serves the entire Greater Houston market from Galveston to Trinity.
Over 80% of MAD Properties Group's clients are military veterans or military-affiliated families. Veteran clients receive a portion of the commission back at closing through the MAD Properties Give Back Program — a tangible commitment to the community Melanie has served for two decades.
One point of contact. No hand-offs. Weekly updates. Straight answers from first call to closing keys.
MAD Properties Group | Keller Williams Signature
832-657-3805 | madsoldit.com | TX License #514494-B
Specialties
As Co-Chair of Operation Turkey at the Rotary International District 5890 level and Site Leader for the Katy location, Melanie helps coordinate Thanksgiving meal distribution across Greater Houston every year — and in 2025, the program delivered over 14,000 meals across four locations, with the Katy site exceeding its goal by 500 meals. Through MAD for Vets, Melanie has also supported grocery distribution to over 200 veteran families in Galveston County every year since 2022 — and in July 2026, MAD for Vets is expanding that program into Fort Bend County. Giving back isn't a footnote to Melanie's work — it's the foundation it's built on.
Melanie founded the Adopt a Katy ISD Teacher Group in 2020 amidst the pandemic, aiming to enable community support for teachers even remotely. This innovative initiative allows community members to "adopt" a teacher for the school year, offering encouragement through various means such as notes, texts, and gifts. With nearly 9,000 members, the group serves as a robust platform for uplifting support and encouragement, demonstrating its enduring value in fostering a positive educational environment.
The Benefits of Buying a Home
Not sure if you should buy a home? The rent you pay could build equity in your own Real Estate over time. The chart below shows how the rent you pay can add up to a sizeable sum.
| RENT | 5 YEARS | 10 YEARS | 15 YEARS | 20 YEARS | 25 YEARS | 30 YEARS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $60,000 | $120,000 | $180,000 | $240,000 | $300,000 | $360,000 |
| $1,200 | $72,000 | $144,000 | $216,000 | $288,000 | $360,000 | $432,000 |
| $1,400 | $84,000 | $168,000 | $252,000 | $336,000 | $420,000 | $504,000 |
| $1,600 | $96,000 | $192,000 | $288,000 | $384,000 | $480,000 | $576,000 |
| $1,800 | $108,000 | $216,000 | $324,000 | $432,000 | $540,000 | $648,000 |
| $2,000 | $120,000 | $240,000 | $360,000 | $480,000 | $600,000 | $720,000 |
When you buy your home and pay your monthly mortgage, you can gradually accumulate equity. Equity is an ownership interest in the property that you can convert into cash by borrowing against it or by selling your home. As a renter, equity is not accumulated.
RENT:
- •No tax benefit
- •Rental amount may increase
- •Landlord approval needed for any cosmetic changes
- •No equity is accumulated
BUY:
- Tax benefits, including deductions for mortgage interest
- Payments remain stable
- No approval needed for cosmetic changes
- Property value usually increases over time
The Process
Your journey to homeownership in 9 steps
Hire a Real Estate Agent
Partner with experienced professionals who will guide you through the entire process
Obtain Financial Preapproval
Get prequalified to understand your budget and strengthen your offer
Find Your Home
Search properties that meet your needs and lifestyle
Make an Offer
Submit a competitive offer with guidance from your agent
Offer Accepted
Celebrate this milestone and prepare for the next steps
Home Inspection & Negotiate Repairs
Professional inspection to identify any issues and negotiate repairs
Lender Orders Appraisal
Bank appraisal to verify the home value
Final Walkthrough
Final inspection before closing to ensure everything is in order
Close on Your Home
Sign documents and receive keys to your new home
Buyer's Closing Checklist
Prior to Closing:
- Pay Earnest and Option Period money to chosen title company within the first 3 days of contract execution.
- Provide a copy of the receipted contract to the mortgage company processing your loan.
- For home inspection, schedule the appointment with the inspector and Seller as soon as possible.
- Contact an insurance company to obtain Homeowner's Insurance. Supply this information to the mortgage company and title company at least one week prior to closing.
- Set up utilities to begin service on the day of closing.
Required at Closing:
- Valid Driver's License or other photo identification, such as passport.
- If money is due at time of closing, set up a wire with funds, or provide a cashier's check made payable to the title company.
- Any required documents that your lender has requested you to bring to closing.
Avoid Closing Delays:
- !Verify Driver's License or other photo identification, such as passport, are not expired.
- !If you will not be present at closing to sign documents and intend to use a Power of Attorney (POA), the following must occur:
- •The title company and your lender must approve the POA prior to closing.
- •The original POA must be delivered to title before closing to be recorded with the County Clerk's office.
- •Contact must be made with you via telephone on the day of closing to be certain you are alive and well and have not revoked the POA.
What Our Clients Say
Melanie and her team are absolutely fantastic! Melanie worked diligently to find us the perfect home we were looking for, and quickly. She kept us informed and answered all our questions and was always available. Her knowledge in her profession made our home buying process so smooth. Definitely a client for life!
This team is FANTASTIC! After a really bad experience with my first realtor they came in and told me exactly what to expect from them and they DELIVERED! What a great experience it was working w/ them.
She was extremely knowledgable about the process and kept us informed from day one. Melanie and her crew were extremely helpful throughout the entire process. We would strongly recommend to anyone thinking of buying or selling a home.
Melanie and her whole team are absolutely wonderful. They were always available and communicative throughout the whole purchasing and seeking process. I even loved their periodical check ins. Melanie's experience and confidence in negotiating gave me so much confidence. I always felt supported! Thank you, Melanie and the whole MAD team!
We've purchased 3 homes in the last several years. This has by far been the best experience for us. Dealing with the MAD team, we had all the confidence in the world we could move forward in this crazy market. We will never use anyone else!
Thank You
For the amazing opportunity to help guide you through your home buying process. While the process can seem very overwhelming, we want you to rest assured that we are here to guide, educate, network, advocate and negotiate to the best of our abilities, on your behalf.
It's what we do and we do it well!