I’m often asked if I know a Realtor in another part of the country. In most cases the answer is Yes!

Even if I don’t chances are I know what to look for in another agent to find a great one better than someone who isn’t working full time in the real estate business.

It’s much better to ask me this question before starting down the road of buying or selling real estate.

A few weeks ago I had two people ask me for a Realtor recommendation in Houston.

One person I was able to connect with a great agent who helped them find a home. They are closing on their home in a week and are very happy.

The second person contacted me after their friend had already listed his home with another agent. He wasn’t happy with the way his home was being…

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Austin-area home prices set August record, outpace household income growth in August 2015

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


AUSTIN, Texas – September 22, 2015 – According to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) report released today by the Austin Board of REALTORS® (ABoR), Austin-area single-family home sales remained high in August, increasing eight percent to 2,943 home sales compared to August 2014. Austin-area single-family median home prices, for both sales and leasing, set a record for the month of August. Median home sales prices increased by eight percent year-over-year to $265,000, while median home lease payments increased by seven percent to $1,600.

Barb Cooper, 2015 President of the Austin…

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There are some important changes coming for future mortgage borrowers effective for mortgage applications taken after October 3, 2015. This is great news for borrowers to give them a better understanding of their costs and enough time to review the closing statement.

These changes have been brought about by the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID) rule that is part of the Dodd Frank Reform & Consumer Protection Act.

The result of this legislation overhauls closing documents and institutes timelines for real estate settlement procedures.

Here is what this means to you as a buyer or seller of real estate.

Loan estimates and final closing financial disclosures will be easier to understand.

Disclosures will clarified to be easier to…

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One of the neighborhood events I look forward to is the semi-annual Avery Ranch garage sale. This event happens in both the spring and the fall. The fall 2015 Avery Ranch garage sale will take place on September 19h from 7AM-1PM.

With almost 4,000 homes in the neighborhood there will be plenty of homes selling items. This is a great opportunity to find clothes, toys, bikes and furniture.

One piece of advice is to get started early. Cars will be lined up at 7AM and the great items will sell right away.

We are Avery Ranch homeowners and real estate experts. If you are interested in buying or selling Avery Ranch real estate contact us today.

Avery Ranch Home For Sale


 

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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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