Real estate prices in the Austin area have appreciated so much this year we are seeing more problems with appraisals coming in lower than the sales price.

An appraiser is looking backwards at sales prices that happened in the past. Buyers and sellers are looking at current market value, which in an appreciating market can be higher than the appraised value of a home.

The reason a low appraisal can be a problem is the mortgage company will only loan based on the lower of the sales price or appraised value.

Let’s look at what can happen if an appraisal on a home is determined to be lower than the sale price.

The buyer can terminate the contract

In most cases if a home does not appraise for the sales price the buyer has the right to…

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If you were taking a friend out for the best hamburger in Austin would you bring him to McDonalds?

One of the biggest misconceptions about real estate is that a real estate agent who works for a large brokerage will be able to represent someone selling their home better than an agent who works for a smaller, independent broker. I spent over 11 years working with larger brokerages and based on that experience let’s talk about some of those misconceptions.

Networking among agents

What happens inside a large real estate brokerage is probably the most misunderstood aspect of real estate. As an outsider you may be under the impression that each brokerage has large office meetings where the best agents attend and exchange information about their…

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Austin-area home sales hit all-time high, inventory levels rising in July 2015

Austin Board of REALTORS® releases real estate statistics for July 2015

AUSTIN, Texas – August 20, 2015 – According to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) report released today by the Austin Board of REALTORS® (ABoR), Austin-area home sales hit an all-time high, increasing 12 percent year-over-year to 3,149 sales for the month of July.

Barb Cooper, 2015 President of the Austin Board of REALTORS¬®, explained, “We’re in the midst of one of the most active summer selling seasons to-date, with more single-family home sales than ever before. Home prices remain high, but inventory levels have increased steadily throughout 2015, perhaps taking a step toward a more balanced…

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There are a variety of opportunities in the Austin Real Estate Market for buyers who are looking to buy a new home. The benefits of buying a newly built home include the luxury of picking out all the features you do or do not want in your home and the peace of mind knowing that the condition of the house & the appliances are brand new.

There is a saying in real estate that you make your money when you buy. One way to make a good purchase is to enlist the help of a Realtor when buying a new home. Here are 3 ways we can help you if you are thinking about buying a new home in the Austin area:

Why You Should Have A Realtor When Building A New Home

1. Lot Selection

A home’s lot can greatly contribute to the future resale value of the home. Many lots in a new home development will not be appealing to…

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Austin-area home sales top 3,000, $1 billion in volume in June 2015, prices remain high;
Mid-year results show 2015 on pace to exceed historical sales volume in 2014

Austin Board of REALTORS® releases real estate statistics for June 2015 and mid-year 2015


AUSTIN, Texas – July 21, 2015 – According to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) report released today by the Austin Board of REALTORS® (ABoR), Austin-area home sales topped 3,000 sales for the first time since July 2013, increasing five percent year-over-year to 3,051 sales for the month of June. Mid-year statistics show that Austin-area home sales increased an average of four percent year-over-year to 13,917, putting 2015 on pace to potentially exceed 2014’s historical high in sales volume.

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One of the most misunderstood aspects of real estate is dollars per square foot ($/sf). Even with my own clients it can be difficult to get them to realize there are too many factors that go into pricing real estate for this to be a reliable statistic.

What is $/sf?

If you take the sales price divided by the size of the home you will have calculated $/sf. Comparing 2 homes by $/sf would be fine if both homes are exactly the same, but that rarely happens.

Here are some of the reasons why comparing homes by $/sf may not be accurate:

1. Lot value as part of the overall home value.

The value of the lot is not considered when calculating $/sf. A home that is on a more valuable lot for whatever reason (size, greenbelt, swimming pool, etc)…

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Austin-area home prices remain high, home sales decrease in May 2015

Austin Board of REALTORS® releases real estate statistics for May 2015

AUSTIN, Texas – June 19, 2015 – After setting a record in April, single-family home sales dipped two percent to 2,767 home sales in May, according to the May 2015 Multiple Listing Service (MLS) report released today by the Austin Board of REALTORS®.

Single-family home prices remained high, both setting a record for the month of May and increasing at a rapid rate that is outpacing historical appreciation, which is typically four percent annually according to the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University. The majority of homes entering the market continue to be priced outside of an affordable price range…

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I was talking with a woman who took her home off the market after it didn’t sell in 3 months. When I asked her why her home didn’t sell she said, “Someone told me the pictures sucked, but I never checked.”

With the advent of affordable digital cameras and camera phones many agents will tell you that they can take real estate pictures that are just as good as a professional photographer. I have heard many agents say the pictures they take are “good enough.”

Even though camera phones and consumer level digital cameras have incredible sensors there is a big difference between the photos an agent can take and what a professional can do.

We offer professional photography for all of our listings. Let’s look at some of the differences between…

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When you are buying or selling a home in Avery Ranch you will want to work with a Realtor who knows the market here.

We have been Avery Ranch homeowners since 2007 and we know the area better than anyone else.

When you’re selling your home wouldn’t you like a Realtor on your side who loves the neighborhood as much as you do?

We can talk to you about the schools, restaurants, trailheads and real estate in Avery Ranch because we live here every day.

There are almost 4,000 homes in Avery Ranch split up into many different sections. You should work with Realtors who specialize in the neighborhood like us, and who can tell you the best areas to help you find the perfect home.

Many of the best homes in Avery Ranch sell before they are listed, or…

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