What It Means And What It Doesn’t Mean

A newspaper article about realtors coming to a settlement about how Americans buy and sell homes.

By now I’m sure you’ve heard that the National Association of Realtors announced a proposed settlement to address the broker compensation lawsuits that have popped up across the country. The settlement has generated a lot of media attention and unfortunately a lot of what has been reported is misleading so I wanted to give an explanation of what has happened.

Before I even start, this is a proposed settlement that still needs court approval and none of the changes will go into effect until July at the earliest. However, I do expect it will be approved whether in this format or something similar and we are already putting systems into place to guide our clients through any possible changes and give you the…

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I am much more optimistic about the real estate market today than I was this time last year. For our listings that went on the market in January, we had 57% more showings and Open House visitors than last January.

In addition, our listings all went under contract at great prices.

Buyers appear to be more ready to buy today. When interest rates hit 8% last year, the market froze. In that situation, you can’t blame buyers for pausing their home search. When rates are 8%, and there is no indication they aren’t going to keep going up, it’s hard to decide to buy a home.

Today, the expectation is that rates will slowly tick down over the next few years.

Despite my feelings, there are still challenges ahead. Interest rates remain close to…

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Hello everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I just wanted to take a moment to wish you all a happy New Year, and to share some thoughts on what we can expect from the real estate market in the coming months.

Looking back on the past year, it's clear that the real estate market has undergone some significant changes. Unlike the uncertainty we faced at the start of 2023, we're now seeing a more positive and optimistic market environment.

In a recent market update, I delved into the current trends and explored factors shaping the landscape. Austin, in particular, has seen a 13.9% decrease from its peak and a 5.5% decline from last year, contributing to a more balanced market.

One significant change is the shift from the intense…

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It’s always our goal to provide you with the best information so you can make the best decisions. There are 3 things I’ve noticed seniors are misunderstanding about taxes.

You Don’t Need To Buy Another Home To Avoid Capital Gains Tax

In the old days to avoid paying Capital Gains tax when you sold a home you needed to use your profit to buy another home. That’s no longer true.

The IRS code allows you to avoid paying tax on up to $500,000 per couple ($250,000 per person) if you have lived in the home for 2 of the previous 5 years. That means if a couple bought a home for $400,000 and sell it for $900,000 you wouldn’t owe any tax.

The best part is you don’t need to buy another home to take advantage of this loophole. For more information…

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Everybody knows that Zillow primarily operates as an advertising platform. I get clients who often share stories of discovering their realtors through the platform after a quick skim through a list of local realtors from the search bar. You might get a real estate veteran or an agent fresh out of school. You never know, and you should be wary of who you hire to buy or sell your home; here's why...



In a recent report from real estate insider Mike Delprete, Zillow is reportedly applying pressure on realtors who advertise on their platform, urging them to direct business to Zillow's mortgage company. The catch? If realtors don't comply, Zillow might pull the plug on their advertising and stop sending leads to these agents. This revelation…

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Almost every day I get calls or have people attend our seminars thinking they can’t sell their house because of what they are hearing in the news. I assure you we are still helping people like you sell their homes and If what you are hearing has stopped you from making a move contact us to talk about your plans. Many people have benefited this year from scheduling a buying power and home improvement audit. I’ve found that even if what I tell them isn’t what they want to hear it allows them to make better decisions and move forward with their life. I’m not saying it’s easy but in the end our clients always say it’s worth it to move on to a better place.

Who Is Moving Right Now?

One of our recent clients were the original owner of their home. They…

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Make Your Voice Heard in the Avery Ranch Community! 


Hello, fellow Avery Ranch Residents!

The Avery Ranch community needs your votes for the upcoming 2023 Annual Meeting and Election! This is your chance to play a vital role in shaping the future of our community by choosing the individuals who will represent us on the Board of Directors.

Convenient Voting Options

The Avery Ranch Management team has made it easier than ever for you to participate in this important process. Here are your options:

1. Online Voting

How:  Simply visit https://vtnw.com/go/ARVote/ using your internet browser. You'll need your unique voter registration code to cast your vote electronically. Remember, do not use the search box if you prefer to search for…

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Hey there, Avery Ranch Residents!

Are you ready for a day of bargain hunting and treasure hunting? Mark your calendars for an event that's become a beloved tradition in our community—the Avery Ranch Fall Community Garage Sale! Clear out those garages, sheds, and closets because it's happening on Saturday, September 16th, from 7 AM to 1 PM. 

It's that time of year again! In the days leading up to the garage sale, watch for signs posted by the HOA at the four corners of our community announcing the event.

Homeowners are encouraged to put up their own signs on the day of the garage sale to help shoppers find their location with ease. Just remember, these signs should be promptly removed once the garage sale concludes. Let's keep our beautiful…

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Over the last year I have received more calls from divorcing couples to talk about their options. Here is one thing they often get wrong.

In most cases when a couple is getting a divorce and they own a home with a mortgage it is in the name of both owners. Typically in a divorce the property goes to the husband or the wife. The person who isn’t keeping the property will sign a deed to remove them from the property.

The problem is the mortgage is still in both names and the mortgage company doesn’t recognize that deed removing you from the liability. The only way to remove yourself is by including in your divorce decree the other owner has to refinance the mortgage or the property should be sold.

Many divorces are amicable. Things may be amicable…

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Sometimes I’ll hear someone saying they want a “hungry agent”. In reality hiring a hungry agent is your biggest risk in this market.

The number of homes in our area being listed and sold is down about 30%. Realtors are leaving the business left and right because there aren’t enough homes for everyone. If you’re looking for a hungry agent you will have a lot to choose from.

What you don’t realize is how much that will hurt you. When listing your home, the biggest risk you have is hiring someone who will tell you what you want to hear so you hire them. When an agent is that hungry you have to wonder if the advice they are giving is benefitting you or them.

I recently had a buyer’s agent on a sale tell me she personally needed that deal to…

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