Property tax appraisal values have been mailed out in Williamson County. I have seen a lot of questions about protesting property taxes because the values we have received from the Williamson County Appraisal District (WCAD.org) have gone up significantly again this year. 

I just lowered my property tax appraised value from $402,874 to $367,011 (if I choose to accept that value) in 2 minutes without leaving my home. You may not get the same result but it’s worth a shot and I thought I would pass on some tips that might help you.

I used to think the process to protest my property taxes was confusing. Then I figured out the tax office has a system and by following directions it has been much easier for me.

This isn’t intended to get you a below…

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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 2016 Avery Ranch garage sale will take place on Saturday, September 10 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.

If you are having a garage sale at your home feel free to leave your address and a list of items you are selling in the comment section below.

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…

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VA Loans are hotter than ever. Over the last six years, more and more veterans and their families have flocked to the security and unmatched buying power of these government-backed loans. VA purchase loan volume continues to climb, jumping to $271,804 loans in 2014 from just 180,758 in 2009.

A tighter credit market and sagging housing industry have fueled renewed interest in this long-cherished program. VA loans feature more flexible credit and underwriting standards than conventional loans. Qualified military personnel and veterans can purchase a home with no money down or private mortgage insurance.

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, VA loans remain the safest lending option on the market. That combination of purchasing power and…

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Most people believe for a room to be counted as a bedroom it has to have a closet. That’s not true! The International Residential Code does NOT mandate a bedroom to have a closet.

Here is the definition of a bedroom we have to follow when entering data into the MLS with the Austin Board of Realtors.

“A bedroom needs at least two methods of egress, so it should be accessible from the house with a latch to afford privacy and then have one other exit (window or door), ceiling needs to be at least 7 ft tall and the room should be at least 70 SQFT, and more specifically the room cannot be smaller than 7 feet in any horizontal direction. Most bedrooms contact a closet: however rare exceptions do exist such as historical homes.”

If you have…

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How are the schools? That’s a common question parents and even people with no kids who are thinking about resale value ask us.

One way people evaluate schools is by looking at the website greatschools.com. The website Zillow also includes greatschools.com ratings on each property listing.

Greatschools.com takes information about a school and boils it down into a singular score with 10 being the highest score possible.  A problem with evaluating schools this way is the information used may be outdated or inaccurate.

Get Your Complimentary Avery Ranch Home Market Analysis Report Right Now!

An example of outdated information being used would be with one of the elementary schools in our neighborhood, Rutledge Elementary. For as long as I can…

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Buying a home is a precious event. The home you choose is going to shape your daily routines and memories for years to come. The process of finding and purchasing a home can be an exhausting one. For this reason, it is best to find a Realtor to help guide you through the process and protect your interests from start to finish.

Some homebuyers make the mistake of asking the listing agent to show them the home that they are interested in. I’ll explain why this is a bad idea throughout the rest of this article. Sometimes these buyers will also enter into a real estate contract with the Realtor who is representing the seller as well. This is called Dual Agency”; when one real estate agent represents both sides of a transaction.

Some buyers feel that…

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Many parts of the Austin area are still seeing multiple offers on homes. One of the things people are most surprised about is we have seen homes with over 10 offers on them even in the suburbs!

Not every client feels comfortable using these tactics but we always want to make you aware of what options are available so you don’t have to say “If only I knew I could have done that…” when your dream home goes under contract to someone else.

We can’t guarantee you will win in a multiple offer situation but here are some tips we have learned over the years to improve your chances.

  • Have an experienced Realtor helping to explain these options
    One of the statistics that surprises people is how few homes the average Realtor sells in a year. Be sure to…

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When you want to sell your Austin area home, you don't want to fool around. You want to see that SOLD sign in the front yard and you want to realize the highest possible selling price. This is why having a Realtor® with a strong marketing strategy is so important in real estate.

Kopa Real Estate uses a multi-step process to do just that.

It all begins with choosing the correct price, so the first step in our service to you is the preparation of a comprehensive market analysis, based on the most recent sales of homes most like yours in your neighborhood – or neighborhoods much like yours.

After that, we focus on:

  • Preparation
  • Marketing
  • Follow-through
  • Negotiation
  • Follow up

Preparation:

More than 90% of all home buyers…

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Weather and the time of year have a big impact housing activity, and in every housing market there are times of the year when fewer homes sell. For most, that time of year coincides with the winter months, and in much of the U.S., that’s the case right now.

But no matter where you live, it’s important to know how seasonality affects the housing market. So let’s look at the current housing numbers, how seasonality affects them, and what it means for you if you’re looking to buy or sell.

With few homes available, sellers are in pole position

Last year, limited inventory dominated the headlines for the real estate industry, and that trend looks to continue this year. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), inventory dropped…

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Recent changes by Fannie Mae are great news for Austin self-employed mortgage borrowers.

Previously to qualify for a Fannie Mae mortgage self-employed borrowers were required to provide the most recent 2 years tax returns to document their income.

A recent change allows mortgage companies to use only the most recent year’s tax return to qualify a buyer for a Fannie Mae mortgage.

This will be especially helpful for 2 types of borrowers

  • Self employed borrowers who started their business 2 years ago and had large start up expenses. When a borrower takes business tax deductions it likely will reduce their net income which is the figure mortgage companies use to establish how much debt a borrower can have.

    If this person had a low-income figure…

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