Disclosure is the law in most residential real estate transactions, but there are nuances that every informed Austin home buyer should know. In Texas, the Seller’s Disclosure Notice applies only to sellers of property comprising “not more than one dwelling unit.” Prudent home buyers should not expect every matter of personal importance to be made […]
Understanding HOAs in Austin
About 25% of the home owners in the Austin, Texas metro area live in property governed by a Home Owner’s Association (HOA). HOAs are created by developers at the time the project or subdivision was designed as a means to define the community standards for the purpose of protecting property values of the community. They’re […]
6 Ways to Get Your Offer Accepted in a Competitive Market
Even in this holiday season, Austin’s housing market is still very active. A spiking increase in population coupled with a strong job market and low interest rates is making home buying very, very competitive. The best homes sell quickly and sometimes with multiple offers. So, just how does a serious home buyer stand out from […]
4 Golden Rules of Home Buying
Over the years, I’ve discovered that some of the best advice about home buying can be summarized in these four golden rules of home buying. #1 It’s Almost Always a Mistake to #2 Remember #3 Before you Buy, Ask Yourself #4 Financial Unpreparedness is a Deal Killer Follow These 4 Simple Rules for Success Home […]
7 Tips for Selling in an Inventory Starved Market
Austin’s inventory of active homes for sale is at historically low levels. Surprisingly, given the scarce supply and high demand, I’m seeing sellers missing opportunities to capitalize on the state of the market. There are bidding wars going on well-priced, well located homes. Thoughtless mistakes are costing sellers a lot of money preventing them from […]
What is Absorption Rate and What Does it Mean for Buyers and Sellers?
Virtually every Austin home buyer and home seller wants to know where the Austin real estate market is going. That’s a very sensible question when we consider that we can do nothing about the past and only the future is pertinent to our lives. Sales data in our Austin Real Estate Price Reports tell the […]
Best Time to Think About Selling Your Home is Before You Buy It
Very few home buyers think about an exit route. That is asking the question: “How easy or difficult will it be to sell this house when I’m ready?” Everyone thinks about what kind of house they need and how much they can afford, but very few consider the saleability of the identified property? Smart Austin […]
Characteristics of a Great Austin Neighborhood
Identifying the best Austin neighborhoods is relatively easy once you know what characteristics to look for since superior neighborhoods have several things in common. Austinite’s who recognize the importance location plays in preserving home value will zero in on these and generally pay a price premium to land the right property. Characteristics of a Great […]
If I Pay Cash for a Home Can I Get a Lower Price?
If I pay cash for a home can I get a lower price? At most price levels, especially the bottom 50% of the housing market, the answer is probably “no.” Even when a lender is financing the purchase, the seller is going to get 100% of the agreed upon sales price. Today, qualified buyers can […]
How to Evaluate Which Condo is Right for You
Finding the perfect condominium is an unrealistic expectation, but finding the right condominium for you is realistic when you pay attention to the details. The key question to ask yourself before buying a condo is: “How much will I enjoy living in this unit?” How to Evaluate Which Condo is Right for You? The Downtown […]