Home Warranty policies are contractual guarantees to repair or replace certain systems and/or components that malfunction within the time limits set forth in the contract with the payment of a premium and deductible. Essentially, home warranty protection programs are insurance against the limited risk of loss due to the malfunction or breakdown of specifically described […]
Austin Home Buyer Tips
Looking for tips to make your home buying experience fun and stress fee? Want to learn what professional buyer's agents look for in a house? Find out our best buyer tips on our Austin Home Buyer Tips Blog.
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Truth About Buying Short Sales
In our previous post, we discussed the truth about selling short sales. Now, let’s take a look at the challenges facing the short sale buyer. Buy a Short Sale for Instant Equity? There’s a common misconception that a person can buy a short sale using the “ELF” formula. That is, make money the “Easy, Lucrative […]
Will an Early Mortgage Pre-Approval Hurt My Credit Score
Many Austin home buyers are afraid of getting pre-approved for a mortgage loan too early for fear it will hurt their credit score. Are these fears unfounded? The short answer is yes. Getting Pre-Approved Does Not Hurt Your Credit Score Getting pre-approved should be the first step in the home buying process and should come […]
5 Advantages & Disadvantages of Buying New Construction
Prospective home buyers in the Austin area have the choice whether to buy new construction or a resale. This post addresses the advantages and disadvantages of buying a newly constructed home from builder/developer. First, however, let me offer what I know is the soundest piece of advice about buying into a new sub-division: Discover the […]
What Incentive Does a Buyer’s Agent Have to Negotiate a Lower Price for a Buyer?
Since the Buyer’s Agent is paid a percentage of the sales price – a higher selling price means more commission for the agent – why would the agent work to get a buyer the lowest price possible? What incentive does a buyer’s agent have to negotiate a lower price? Good Buyer’s Agents Don’t Focus on […]
6 Unbreakable Rules of Buying a Home You Might Need to Sell Soon
As compared to other asset categories, real estate is an illiquid, long term asset. It will generally take a longer period of time to convert the value of real estate into cash than, for example, gold, silver, stocks, bonds, or fine art. Buying a home when you first relocate to Austin, or when you might […]
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 […]
How to Determine What to Offer for a Home
No buyer wants to pay more for a home than they have to. As Austin buyer’s agents, we will help you compose a purchase offer and negotiate hard on your behalf. How do we counsel our clients to make market appropriate purchase offers? Here’s how to determine what to offer for a home. Consider 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 […]