Over the past 3 decades, I’ve bought and sold a fair amount of real estate both as an investor for my own account and as an agent representing clients. Along the way I’ve learned the hard way – through experience – several simple truths about real estate. I wish I had learned these truisms earlier […]
Assessed Value vs Appraised Value
When you are seriously considering making an offer on a house, it is likely you will look at the property tax records in an effort to determine the tax rate, schools and how much the property taxes will be. Another field on the property tax record is the property’s assessed value. This field causes a […]
Should I Hire the Agent Who Thinks My House is Worth the Most?
If that agent has the money to buy your home at the listing appointment, then yes, absolutely! If they’re willing to put their money where their mouth is, take the money and run. But, 99.99 times out of 100, that isn’t going to be the case. If you’re pondering the question, “should I hire the […]
Using Price Per Square Foot When Determining Home Value
Attempting to measure a home’s true market value using a price per square foot calculation is more often confusing, misleading and quite possibly deceptive. Using price per square foot as a valuation tool is a little like predicting the local high and low temperatures by using a national weather temperature averages. But, even with its […]
Top 9 Locational Flaws that Affect Austin Home Values
We often say the best time to think about selling an Austin home is before you buy it. We spend a tremendous amount of time with our buyer clients evaluating an Austin home they’re interested in purchasing. We want them to know exactly what they’re getting into, especially if the home is going to be […]
How to Find Out What My Neighbors Home Sold For
You see a sign go up in your neighborhood and a few days later, you see an “Under Contract” sign on top of it. Then, a few weeks after that, the sign comes down and a new family moves in. What did they pay for your neighbors home? You want to ask your neighbor, but […]
Property Tax Trends in Austin
We’ve written extensively on property tax rates in Austin and with good reason. Texas, as you may know, has no personal income tax. This makes property taxes and sales taxes the primary means of rising revenue and a unique income/expense situation for many relocating buyers. While it may be intimidating at first, being informed about […]
Setting the Right List Price When Selling Your Home
The right list price will attract able buyers who make solid offers, getting you every dollar your home is worth. Getting it right from the start is an art form and also the key to creating an appearance of value to more than one buyer. When your home catches the eye of more than one […]
How Much More is a Home with a View Worth?
How much more is a home with a view worth? There is no disagreement within the real estate, lending and appraisal communities that a view can add value to a property, but there is no agreed upon formula or rule-of-thumb to quantify just how much more valuable a view property is than one without a […]
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 […]