As a home buyer in today’s Austin housing market, you’re undoubtedly at your wit’s end trying to find your dream home. Even when you do find a home you love, you’re competing with all cash offers and bidding wars driving the sales price above what it’s listed for and many times, even above what the […]
Buying a Home in Austin
Considering buying a home in Austin? Check out our home buyer tips, multiple offer strategies, how-to guides, home buyer mistakes and more in our Austin Home Buyer Blog.
Don't miss our Austin Home Buyer section, our Austin Neighborhood Guides and our Guide to Relocating to Austin for more insider home buying tips!
What is a Pocket Listing and Who Benefits?
What is a pocket listing? “Pocket Listing” is the colloquial term for any active listing that is not entered into the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). In Austin, Texas, it’s called Austin Central Texas Realty Information Service (ACTRIS). The listing agent markets the property directly to the public circumventing the MLS and keeps the listing “in […]
5 Essential Insider Tips For the Savvy Home Buyer
Home buying is a complex, legalistic endeavor complicated by emotions and uncertainty. As individuals, we get very little practice at buying a home and we seem to be plagued by the best intentions of family, friends and co-workers offering their sometimes unsolicited opinions. There is a lot to learn about home buying, and it’s not […]
How to Succeed with Multiple Offers
Austin’s housing inventory is selling faster than the boom period of 2007. In June 2012, Austin had a 4.4 month supply of homes available for sale. Today (March 2016), at the current rate of sale Austin has only a 1.8 month supply. The surge in sales coupled with resurgent demand has re-introduced the phrase “multiple […]
7 Biggest Negotiating Mistakes Buyers Make
Negotiating the purchase of a home is much different than most other forms of negotiation. Negotiating business deals and employment contracts, but those types of situations lack a very important component that is found in most real estate transactions – pride of ownership. Every seller is proud of their home and every seller thinks their […]
5 Step Time Saving Systems to Make Your Home Search Efficient and Effective
Let’s face it, with family and work commitments we all have very limited time. Admittedly, home buying can be a pretty time consuming process if not handled efficiently. If you’ve been putting off your home search because you don’t have the time to devote to it, there is a better way. We have developed an […]
How Long Does it Take to Close a Home in Austin
With the new TRID lending and disclosure requirements, it is taking longer to close a home in Austin. In some parts of the country, we’re hearing it is taking double the time it took before the new disclosure rules went into effect. Just how long does it take in Austin to close on a home? […]
Best Places to Buy a Home in Austin
If you want to protect your investment, you want to make sure you buy a home in the best possible neighborhood you can comfortably afford. What makes a great neighborhood? What other factors should you consider? I’m glad you asked. Here are some tips we give our Austin home buyer clients. How Do You Determine […]
We’ve Never Had a Septic System Before
Last month I attended a septic inspection with my clients – first time buyers, new to Austin. While they had rented houses for years as they moved around attending to their careers, they never had the responsibility of maintaining a home. As I listened to the Inspector explain what he was doing and why, I […]
The Dirt on Dirt in Austin – How to Protect Your Home
Austin is different. One major difference between where you are moving from and here is our local soil composition. Right now some of you might be thinking “who cares about dirt?” Well, if you are considering buying a home in Austin, you should know how soil conditions may affect your future home. Here’s the quick […]