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        <description><head> <meta name="description" content="Kopa Real Estate LLC. - 27 Years of Real Estate Experience - Award Winning Real Estate Brokers - "We Help Home Sellers and Buyers In The Greater Austin Area!"></head>
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    <guid>https://www.koparealestate.com/blog/adding-value-to-your-house.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.koparealestate.com/blog/adding-value-to-your-house.html</link>
        <author>eric@koparealestate.com (Eric Peterson)</author>
        <title>Adding Value To Your House</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
I love it when our clients and people who bought our listings send me pictures of how they have added value to their homes. I wanted to start sharing some of the things I think are good ideas and if you have something you’re proud of and would like to share please send me your photos. 


Most of the homes we sell were built before so many people could work from home. When the homes were built there were often areas that were not enclosed with doors that would be if the home was built today. For example, there is a formal dining room on one side and a sitting area on the other side. The current owners are likely using the sitting area as a home office. But today’s buyers are more likely to want a private office with doors. 


Adding doors to create a more private space for an office or in this case a multi-purpose room for kids to play or watch TV is a good idea. Although a buyer can always do something like this on their own, they often lack the creativity and typically will wildly overestimate what something like this will cost. 


Thanks to Sue and Bill for sharing this picture.







 


If you plan to sell your home, now is the best time to attend our Free Home Selling Seminars. If you want to attend a seminar, contact us, and we will notify you when they are scheduled. As always, you can check KopaSeminar.com to see the dates and times of our in-person and online Free Home Selling Seminars. For years, home sellers have told me they benefited from attending our events. Sign up for our Free Home Selling Seminar in Austin or Cedar Park at KopaSeminar.com.







 


The information on this page may have changed since we first published it. We give great real estate advice, but this page (and the rest of our site) is for informational use only and is no substitute for actual real estate, legal and financial advice. If you’d like to establish a Broker-client relationship, reach out to us and we’ll tell you how we can make it official. Sending us an email or reading this page alone doesn’t mean we represent you.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 15 Jan 2026 20:37:00 -0600</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
    <guid>https://www.koparealestate.com/blog/seeley-one-year-later.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.koparealestate.com/blog/seeley-one-year-later.html</link>
        <author>eric@koparealestate.com (Eric Peterson)</author>
        <title>Seeley One Year Later</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 



It’s been a year since our 14-year-old Golden Retriever, Seeley, crossed the rainbow bridge. Seeley was truly a special dog and he knew it. This is my favorite picture of him. What a goofball We should all try to live with the joy of a Golden Retriever running with a pack in the park.


When he died, I was especially worried about his brother, Wiley, who is now 15. Fortunately, Wiley has thrived as an only dog which was not what I expected.


Seeley had been having problems for the last 6 months but overall was very happy. Towards the end his back legs began to get weak and he stumbled a couple times.





When I took him in to see the vet, I was hoping she would be able to give us advice about how to keep him from being in pain and perhaps make his legs stronger.


Instead, our vet examined him and said his problem wasn’t due to strength but he had a neurological problem.  She said there wasn’t anything she could do and she was concerned about the quality of life and we should consider euthanasia sooner than later.


Immediately, I called one of the in-home euthanasia vet services. If you take any advice from me about anything, this is the way to do it. At home, in his own bed and with his brother nearby.


I’ve talked before about the difference between being nice or kind. I’m grateful our vet chose to be kind and give me a truthful assessment of Seeley’s condition so we could make the best decision for him. A year later I look back at his pictures and with the advantage of time I am glad we didn’t let him deteriorate more than he did.


In the last few years, I’ve been in situations almost every day where it would be easy for me to be nice but what someone really needs is for me to be kind. All I’m doing is giving people real estate advice. I can’t imagine being responsible to tell people bad news about their pets.


In the last year I’ve often thought about the advice the vet gave us when I’m in situations where someone will like me a whole lot more if I’m nice and tell them what they want to hear. It’s a difficult situation because the truth is most people are happier that way in the short run, but not in the long run.


In real estate it’s common for people to hire someone whose advice is aligned with their hopes and dreams. The truth is whether it’s taking care of the family pet or a real estate transaction you will make better decisions when you hire a trusted advisor who can give you unemotional advice and are open to that advice rather than searching for someone who will tell you what you want to hear.




 


If you plan to sell your home, now is the best time to attend our Free Home Selling Seminars. If you want to attend a seminar, contact us, and we will notify you when they are scheduled. As always, you can check KopaSeminar.com to see the dates and times of our in-person and online Free Home Selling Seminars. For years, home sellers have told me they benefited from attending our events. Sign up for our Free Home Selling Seminar in Austin or Cedar Park at KopaSeminar.com.







 


The information on this page may have changed since we first published it. We give great real estate advice, but this page (and the rest of our site) is for informational use only and is no substitute for actual real estate, legal and financial advice. If you’d like to establish a Broker-client relationship, reach out to us and we’ll tell you how we can make it official. Sending us an email or reading this page alone doesn’t mean we represent you.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 12 Dec 2025 19:24:00 -0600</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
    <guid>https://www.koparealestate.com/blog/zillow-class-action-lawsuit--what-it-means-for-buyers.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.koparealestate.com/blog/zillow-class-action-lawsuit--what-it-means-for-buyers.html</link>
        <author>eric@koparealestate.com (Eric Peterson)</author>
        <title>Zillow Class Action Lawsuit – What It Means For Buyers</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
Zillow is currently facing a class-action lawsuit alleging it operates an illegal kickback scheme by coercing its affiliated real estate agents to steer homebuyers toward Zillow Home Loans (ZHL) in exchange for valuable customer leads. The lawsuit claims this practice violates federal and state laws and harms consumers by denying them impartial advice. 


Allegations of the Lawsuit


The class-action complaint, initially filed in November 2025 and expanded with insider information from 12 current and former Zillow employees, makes several serious claims: 




Illegal Kickbacks/Steering: The central allegation is that Zillow rewards agents in its &quot;Premier Agent&quot; and &quot;Flex&quot; programs with high-quality leads only if they meet quotas for referring clients to ZHL for pre-approval or a mortgage. This alleged arrangement is considered a &quot;thing of value&quot; exchanged for referrals, which violates the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA).


Breach of Fiduciary Duty: The lawsuit argues that Zillow's system incentivizes agents to prioritize Zillow's financial goals over their clients' best interests and impartial advice. Consumers are often unaware that their agent's access to future business depends on which lender they use.


Deceptive Practices: Zillow allegedly uses an internal tool called &quot;Follow-Up Boss&quot; to monitor communications between agents and buyers, attempting to catch agents who recommend competing lenders. In-person meetings were allegedly used to instruct agents on quotas to avoid a paper trail.


Harm to Consumers: The lawsuit claims that this steering forces buyers into using ZHL's potentially less competitive or more costly loan products, resulting in higher fees or inflated interest rates compared to other lenders.


RICO Claims: An amended complaint added claims under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, alleging a coordinated enterprise between Zillow and partner brokerages to use deceptive practices to profit at every stage of the homebuying process. 






 


If you plan to sell your home, now is the best time to attend our Free Home Selling Seminars. If you want to attend a seminar, contact us, and we will notify you when they are scheduled. As always, you can check KopaSeminar.com to see the dates and times of our in-person and online Free Home Selling Seminars. For years, home sellers have told me they benefited from attending our events. Sign up for our Free Home Selling Seminar in Austin or Cedar Park at KopaSeminar.com.







 


The information on this page may have changed since we first published it. We give great real estate advice, but this page (and the rest of our site) is for informational use only and is no substitute for actual real estate, legal and financial advice. If you’d like to establish a Broker-client relationship, reach out to us and we’ll tell you how we can make it official. Sending us an email or reading this page alone doesn’t mean we represent you.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 12 Dec 2025 17:03:00 -0600</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
    <guid>https://www.koparealestate.com/blog/goodbye-2025-hello-2026-real-estate-predictions.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.koparealestate.com/blog/goodbye-2025-hello-2026-real-estate-predictions.html</link>
        <author>eric@koparealestate.com (Eric Peterson)</author>
        <title>Goodbye 2025 - Hello, 2026 Real Estate Predictions</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 





 


2025 was challenging in the real estate market. Thanks to your support we had a great year and have momentum going into 2026 with some beautiful listings hitting the market in January and we are optimistic for the rest of the year. 





It’s always fun to make predictions. Last year I nailed it when I recommended anyone planning on selling to get your home on the market early in the year. That turned out to be good advice as sellers who delayed saw increased competition and a softer market in the summer. 


What’s going to happen in 2026? Let’s fire up my crystal ball and make some forecasts/guesses. The best way to do this is I will give you my opinion about the forecasts made by some of the national housing forecasters. 


Keep in mind when it comes to the housing market the area we serve is huge and there are so many variables that you shouldn’t make your life plans, at least until we talk. You should also understand I am largely speaking to people who contact me with life events happening such as their daughter is having their first grandchild in Chicago and they want to know if they should move now or if their home will be worth $100,000 next year. Nobody wants to feel like they made a mistake so that’s a reasonable question.


Mortgage Rates


The Federal Reserve cut rates again in December but indicated they may only make one additional cut in 2026. It’s expected President Trump will appoint a new Fed Chairman in 2026 and likely someone who is in favor of additional cuts. Although mortgage rates are influenced by the Fed they are more closely aligned with the 10 Year Treasury Yield. 


In Redfin’s 2026 predictions they expect mortgage rates to average 6.3 for the entire year. Fannie Mae expects rates to stay about where they are for most of the year and gradually dropping to 5.9 by the end of 2026. The National Association of Realtors expects rates to average around 6. Most mortgage companies are quoting rates closer to 6 right now but the average rate currently is about 6.3.  


For our business I am planning on 30 year fixed rate mortgages to be between 6-6.3, in other words about what they are right now. That’s not the 5 rate we all are hoping for but if we can just get some stability where buyers aren’t seeing rates go up and down as much as they have over the last 4 years that would be good for the market. 


Number of Home Sales


The National Association of Realtors predicts the number of homes sold nationally will go up 14. Redfin predicts a 3 increase. 14 isn’t a realistic number unless it’s the result of prices dropping or mortgage rates getting down to 5. 


One thing I am sure of is based on the number of people attending our seminars and contacting me about selling there will be more people who try to sell. More and more people have life events happening that are causing them to move and after years of feeling like they are locked in with a low interest rate they tell me they are sick of living where they are and are ready to move. 


The reason I say try is because in our entire market about 30 of the homes listed in 2025 did not sell. Whether or not the increased listings translate to increased sales will depend on mortgage rates, job growth and how confident people are with their jobs. If we see a decline in prices that could cause buyers who have been on the fence to jump in to the market increasing sales.


Rental Rates


Redfin predicts national rents will rise as demand for apartments rises and supply falls. 


That’s not going to happen around here. Austin is still leading the country in number of apartments being built. Eventually all the apartments will be completed and rented and we will see rents going up, but that is a couple years off. For the single family home market my advice is you should do everything you can to get a tenant to renew the lease, otherwise you will likely rent to a new tenant at a lower price. 


Home Prices


There isn’t great news when it comes to predictions about Austin area real estate prices in 2026. Redfin included Austin in their housing markets most likely to cool down in 2026. Zillow is predicting 2 lower prices and Realtor.com is predicting prices will go down 5. I think prices are likely to go down between 2-5.


More important than getting a prediction like this exactly right isn’t too important. What’s more important for the people we work with is the direction of the market. We aren’t likely to see tremendous appreciation in 2026 which actually makes it easier for me to give you advice if you do want to move. 


How do all these predictions impact your plans? I’d have to know more about your situation to give you tailored advice. Call/text or book a time on my calendar at KopaConsultation.com so we can figure out what makes sense for you. 


One thing I am sure of is based on the number of people attending our seminars and contacting me about selling there will be more people who try to sell. The reason I say try is because in our entire market about 30 of the homes listed in 2025 did not sell. Whether or not the increased listings translate to increased sales will depend on mortgage rates, job growth and how confident people are with their jobs. If we see a decline in prices that could cause buyers who have been on the fence to jump in to the market increasing sales.




 


If you plan to sell your home, now is the best time to attend our Free Home Selling Seminars. If you want to attend a seminar, contact us, and we will notify you when they are scheduled. As always, you can check KopaSeminar.com to see the dates and times of our in-person and online Free Home Selling Seminars. For years, home sellers have told me they benefited from attending our events. Sign up for our Free Home Selling Seminar in Austin or Cedar Park at KopaSeminar.com.







 


The information on this page may have changed since we first published it. We give great real estate advice, but this page (and the rest of our site) is for informational use only and is no substitute for actual real estate, legal and financial advice. If you’d like to establish a Broker-client relationship, reach out to us and we’ll tell you how we can make it official. Sending us an email or reading this page alone doesn’t mean we represent you.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Wed, 10 Dec 2025 16:38:00 -0600</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
    <guid>https://www.koparealestate.com/blog/why-i-would-never-refer-my-friends-to-a-big-box-broker.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.koparealestate.com/blog/why-i-would-never-refer-my-friends-to-a-big-box-broker.html</link>
        <author>eric@koparealestate.com (Eric Peterson)</author>
        <title>Why I Would Never Refer My Friends To A Big Box Broker</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
The Economics of Selling Your Home


Anyone with a basic grasp of free-market economics understands you will get the best price for a product when you expose it to the entire market. But there are many large real estate brokerages that are using your listing for their own gain by only advertising it to agents in their own office. This violates rule 1 that exposing your home to the largest group of buyers will get you the best price. 


This text is from a Facebook post of an agent complaining about how they weren’t given information about a listing being privately sold by a large broker. 


Why Big Brokerages Limit Your Listing's Exposure


Why would they do this? For two reasons. The stock market rewards real estate companies for 2 things; the number of “sides” they sell and the number of agents they have, called agent count. 


The overall number of real estate transactions is at a 30-year low. If a big broker only advertises your listing to other agents in their office, they have a better chance of representing both the seller and the buyer. That means rather than only getting 1 side out of your home listing they will get 2. That’s good fro the broker’s pocketbook but not yours. 


Second, these big brokers are going out to other real estate agents and using your home listing to recruit them to their brokerage. The carrot is if they go to work for the big broker, they will get more opportunities to sell these private listings. For the brokerage, the higher their agent count the higher their stock price. That’s great for them, but why do you care about their stock price?


Commitment to 100 Market Advertising 


Recently, a client/friend asked us if we knew a great real estate agent in San Jose. As it turns out I do and I connected them. I never considered recommending a big brokerage because one of the considerations I have when recommending an agent in another area is I will only recommend agents who advertise their listings to 100 of the market and not only to the agents in their brokerage. 



 


If you plan to sell your home, now is the best time to attend our Free Home Selling Seminars. If you want to attend a seminar, contact us, and we will notify you when they are scheduled. As always, you can check KopaSeminar.com to see the dates and times of our in-person and online Free Home Selling Seminars. For years, home sellers have told me they benefited from attending our events. Sign up for our Free Home Selling Seminar in Austin or Cedar Park at KopaSeminar.com.







 


The information on this page may have changed since we first published it. We give great real estate advice, but this page (and the rest of our site) is for informational use only and is no substitute for actual real estate, legal and financial advice. If you’d like to establish a Broker-client relationship, reach out to us and we’ll tell you how we can make it official. Sending us an email or reading this page alone doesn’t mean we represent you.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 14 Nov 2025 14:42:00 -0600</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
    <guid>https://www.koparealestate.com/blog/how-to-make-sure-your-sale-crosses-the-finish-line.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.koparealestate.com/blog/how-to-make-sure-your-sale-crosses-the-finish-line.html</link>
        <author>eric@koparealestate.com (Eric Peterson)</author>
        <title>How To Make Sure Your Sale Crosses the Finish Line</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 

 


If there was one simple step that could help make your home sale a seamless process, wouldn't you want to know about it?


There’s a lot that happens from the time your house goes under contract to closing day. And a few things still have to go right for the deal to go through. But here’s what a lot of sellers may not know.


There's one part of the process where some homeowners are hitting a road bump that’s causing buyers to back out these days. But don’t worry. The majority of these snags are completely avoidable, especially when you understand what’s causing them and how to be proactive.


That’s where a great agent (and a little prep) can make all the difference.


What’s Causing Some Buyers To Back Out


The latest data from Redfin says 15 of pending home sales are falling through. And that’s not wildly higher than the 12 norm from 2017-2019. But it is an increase.


That means roughly 1 in 7 deals today don’t make it to the closing table. But, at the same time, 6 out of 7 do. So, the majority of sellers never face this problem – and odds are, you won’t either. But you can help make it even less likely if you know how to get ahead.


You might assume the main reason buyers are backing out today is financing. But that’s actually not the case. The most common deal breaker today, by far, is inspection and repair issues (see graph below):





Here’s why that’s a sticking point for buyers right now:




Buyers are already stretched thin from high prices and challenging mortgage rates, so they don’t have the appetite (or budget) for unexpected repairs.


If they’re going to spend all that money, they want to get something that’s move-in ready. They don’t want to take on another high-cost project themselves.


They have more homes to choose from, so if yours seems like a hassle or if you’re not willing to fix something, they can just move on.




The sellers with the best agents have heard about this shift and they’re doing what they can to go in prepared. Enter the pre-listing inspection.


What’s a Pre-Listing Inspection?


It’s exactly what it sounds like. It’s a professional home inspection you schedule before your home hits the market. And while it’s not required, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) explains why it could be a valuable step for some sellers right now:


“To keep deals from unraveling . . . it allows a seller the opportunity to address any repairs before the For Sale sign even goes up. It also can help avoid surprises like a costly plumbing problem, a failing roof or an outdated electrical panel that could cause financially stretched buyers to bolt before closing.”


Think of it as a way to avoid future headaches. You’ll know what issues could pop up during the buyer’s inspection – and you’ll have time to fix them or decide what to disclose before you put your house on the market.


This way, when the buyer’s inspector walks in, you’re ready. No surprises. No last-minute panic. No deal on the line.


Is It Worth It?


Generally speaking, a pre-listing inspection costs just a few hundred dollars. So, it’s not a big expense. And the information it gives you is invaluable. But before you make that investment, talk to your local agent.


In some markets, it may not be worth it. And in others, it may be the best move you can make. It all depends on what’s happening where you are and what’s working for other local sellers.If your agent recommends getting one, they’ll also:




Help you decide which issues to fix


Prioritize repairs based on what buyers in your area are focusing on


Connect you with trusted professionals to get the work done


Ensure you understand local disclosure laws




That small step could save your deal (and your timeline).


Bottom Line


So, if there was one simple step that could help make your home sale go according to plan, would you do it?


If you’d rather deal with surprises on your terms (not with the clock ticking under contract), let’s talk about whether a pre-listing inspection makes sense for your house.


It may be worth it so you can hit the market confident, prepared, and in control.




 


If you plan to sell your home, now is the best time to attend our Free Home Selling Seminars. If you want to attend a seminar, contact us, and we will notify you when they are scheduled. As always, you can check KopaSeminar.com to see the dates and times of our in-person and online Free Home Selling Seminars. For years, home sellers have told me they benefited from attending our events. Sign up for our Free Home Selling Seminar in Austin or Cedar Park at KopaSeminar.com.







 


The information on this page may have changed since we first published it. We give great real estate advice, but this page (and the rest of our site) is for informational use only and is no substitute for actual real estate, legal and financial advice. If you’d like to establish a Broker-client relationship, reach out to us and we’ll tell you how we can make it official. Sending us an email or reading this page alone doesn’t mean we represent you.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 14 Nov 2025 13:51:00 -0600</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
    <guid>https://www.koparealestate.com/blog/how-to-sell-your-home-with-less-stress-for-top-dollar-in-2025.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.koparealestate.com/blog/how-to-sell-your-home-with-less-stress-for-top-dollar-in-2025.html</link>
        <author>eric@koparealestate.com (Eric Peterson)</author>
        <title>How To Sell Your Home With Less Stress &amp; For Top Dollar In 2025</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 



 


Attend our FREE Home Selling Seminar or Webinar to help you get the most money and get your home sold fast.


In only 1-1.5 hours, learn inside secrets from a top Real Estate Broker specializing in selling homes in the Central Texas area. Learn how to sell your home fast, easily, and put more money in your pocket. Reserve your seat and learn:






How long will it take to get your home sold?


What are the current market conditions?


What are the updates that give the biggest return on investment?


Do you really need to make updates or can you sell as-is?





In-Person Seminar Dates:


December 10th, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Moonshine Grill in Avery Ranch


December 11th, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Cedar Park Recreation Center



Online Webinar Dates (Live Zoom Stream):


November 12th, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM November 14th, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM December 3rd, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM December 11th, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM




Sign up now at KopaSeminar.com





*Your information will never be shared with any third party.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 07 Nov 2025 22:05:00 -0600</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
    <guid>https://www.koparealestate.com/blog/thats-not-going-to-work-will-buyers-trust-you.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.koparealestate.com/blog/thats-not-going-to-work-will-buyers-trust-you.html</link>
        <author>eric@koparealestate.com (Eric Peterson)</author>
        <title>That's Not Going To Work Episode 1: Will Buyers Trust You?</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 



By Eric Peterson


Last month I said I would start telling stories of all the homes where people who contacted me but went in a different direction. Here’s the first story from the series “That’s NOT going to work.”


One of the reasons we have a great business is people trust us. When you’re selling your home, something I encourage you to do is think about whether or not buyers are going to trust you. 


Earlier in the year I was contacted by a couple who are the original owners of a 25-year-old home. One of the issues they have is when the home was built the builder didn’t connect the tub overflow correctly. In all the years they lived in the home they never had that fixed and don’t think buyers will care about it. 


In reality it’s probably a simple fix, but what’s more important is the perception buyers will have. Of the top 10 problems a home can have, 10 of them are water-related. Buyers freak out over water damage and trying to sell a home with a plumbing issue behind a wall where buyers will understandably be worried about water damage, mold and what any of this will cost them. 


In addition, buyers who pay the highest prices are looking for homes where they can trust that the sellers have maintained the home. They want to minimize their chances of stepping into significant repairs, and in this market, they have so many homes to choose from; who can blame them? 


As expected, the sellers found another agent who told them what they wanted to hear. Unfortunately for them, what they wanted to hear and how buyers responded weren’t aligned, and the home has been on the market for 4 months and is currently priced 10 below the original asking price. 


 



 


If you plan to sell your home, now is the best time to attend our Free Home Selling Seminars. If you want to attend a seminar, contact us, and we will notify you when they are scheduled. As always, you can check KopaSeminar.com to see the dates and times of our in-person and online Free Home Selling Seminars. For years, home sellers have told me they benefited from attending our events. Sign up for our Free Home Selling Seminar in Austin or Cedar Park at KopaSeminar.com.







 


The information on this page may have changed since we first published it. We give great real estate advice, but this page (and the rest of our site) is for informational use only and is no substitute for actual real estate, legal and financial advice. If you’d like to establish a Broker-client relationship, reach out to us and we’ll tell you how we can make it official. Sending us an email or reading this page alone doesn’t mean we represent you.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 07 Nov 2025 19:06:00 -0600</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
    <guid>https://www.koparealestate.com/blog/why-some-homes-sell-quickly-others-dont-sell-at-all.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.koparealestate.com/blog/why-some-homes-sell-quickly-others-dont-sell-at-all.html</link>
        <author>eric@koparealestate.com (Eric Peterson)</author>
        <title>Why Some Homes Sell Quickly  &amp; Others Don’t Sell At All</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
A few years ago, inventory hit a record low. Just about anything sold – and fast. But now, there are far more homes on the market. Listings are up almost 20 from this time last year. And in some areas, supply is even back to levels we last saw in 2017–2019. For sellers, that means one thing:


Your house needs to stand out and grab attention from day one.


That’s especially true when you consider why the number of homes for sale is up. Here’s how it works. Available inventory is a mix of: 




Active Listings: homes that have been sitting on the market, but haven’t sold yet


New Listings: homes that were just put on the market




Data from Realtor.com shows most of the inventory growth lately is actually from active listings that are staying on the market and taking longer to sell.





The blue bars show active listings. These are the homes that are sitting month to month and not selling. The green bars are new listings, the homes that were just put on the market. And it’s clear there are fewer new listings compared to how many are staying on the market unsold.


Since you don’t want your house to be one of the ones that take a long time to sell, let’s break down where things can go sideways and how to set yourself up to sell quickly.


Why Some Homes Sell and Others Sit


The secret to selling in today’s market is simple. Make sure your house is easy for buyers to say yes to as soon as it is listed. 


Price it based on current conditions (not what your neighbor sold for 3 years ago). Make important repairs. And highlight the best things about your house. If you do that, it will sell in any market – sometimes even faster than you’d think. Because the truth is, homes that are priced right today are still selling. 


It’s the homeowners who are clinging to outdated expectations that are seeing their house sit and their listing go stale. According to Redfin and HousingWire, here are some of the most common reasons sales stall out:




Priced it too high from the start


Skipped necessary repairs before listing


Didn’t stage the house well


Sellers won’t negotiate with buyers


Limited availability for showings


Ineffective marketing or listing pictures




Most of those things didn’t matter as much just a few years ago. When inventory was at a record low, sellers could skip the prep, name their price, and still walk away with multiple offers over their asking price.


But today’s market is different now that inventory has grown. And that means your approach needs to be different too.


You don’t want to try out old strategies and aim too high just to see what sticks. Your first few weeks on the market are everything. That’s when your listing gets the most attention – and when pricing or presentation mistakes hurt the most. Get it wrong up front and your house will sit...and sit. Get it right, and it’ll be snatched up before you know it.


The Right Agent Helps Your House Stand Out


Selling quickly isn’t about luck. It’s about knowing how to play to the market you’re in. And that’s where your agent comes in.


A great agent will analyze your local market, suggest a price based on the latest comparables sold in your neighborhood, and create a marketing plan that makes buyers pay attention from day one. They’ll also walk you through any repairs you need to make or whether you need to bring in a staging company. As the National Association of Realtors (NAR) explains:


“Home sellers without an agent are nearly twice as likely to say they didn’t accept an offer for at least three months; 53 of sellers who used an agent say they accepted an offer within a month of listing their home.”


That’s the power of getting it right (and getting expert help) from the start.


Bottom Line


There are more homes for sale today than there were even just a year ago, but that doesn’t have to work against you.


When your house is priced right, shows well, and is marketed effectively, it will sell. Let’s connect if you want to know how to make that happen in our market this fall.


Contact us today to schedule a consultation and find out the smartest steps to get your home market-ready.




 


If you plan to sell your home, now is the best time to attend our Free Home Selling Seminars. If you want to attend a seminar, contact us, and we will notify you when they are scheduled. As always, you can check KopaSeminar.com to see the dates and times of our in-person and online Free Home Selling Seminars. For years, home sellers have told me they benefited from attending our events. Sign up for our Free Home Selling Seminar in Austin or Cedar Park at KopaSeminar.com.







 


The information on this page may have changed since we first published it. We give great real estate advice, but this page (and the rest of our site) is for informational use only and is no substitute for actual real estate, legal and financial advice. If you’d like to establish a Broker-client relationship, reach out to us and we’ll tell you how we can make it official. Sending us an email or reading this page alone doesn’t mean we represent you.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 07 Nov 2025 15:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
    <guid>https://www.koparealestate.com/blog/common-misunderstandings-about-taxes-keeping-people-stuck.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.koparealestate.com/blog/common-misunderstandings-about-taxes-keeping-people-stuck.html</link>
        <author>eric@koparealestate.com (Eric Peterson)</author>
        <title>Common Misunderstandings About Taxes Keeping People Stuck</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 



Because we are Real Estate Brokers you probably think we try to talk people into selling their home. That isn’t true, but what I do try to do is make sure people who contact me aren’t staying where they are due to misunderstanding how financial things work. This month there were 2 misunderstandings that seemed to come up frequently so I wanted to address them with you, too. 


Misunderstanding 1 – If You Sell And Buy Another Home Your School Taxes Will Go Up


This is a comment a friend made to a post on Facebook. 


&quot;In Texas it rarely makes sense for a long-time boomer homeowner to sell a home to attempt to downsize because the frozen school taxes keep many in their older home.&quot;


Here was my response... 


&quot;Thanks for bringing that up. I always say if it makes sense and solves your problem they should move. If not they shouldn’t.


Your comment is a common misunderstanding. How it actually works is if someone transfers their over 65 exemption to another homestead property in Texas they get to transfer their savings based on a .


Let’s say someone would pay $8,000 in school taxes but because they have been frozen they only pay $2,000 (25). If they buy another house they can transfer that percentage and they will pay 25 of what the school taxes would be without the freeze. If the school taxes normally would be $4,000 for the new house they would pay $1,000 ($4,000 x 25).


None of this means someone should move if it doesn’t make sense and solve their problem, or if it’s not the right time. It’s important for people to understand how it works so they can make the best decision based on correct information.&quot;


Misunderstanding 2 – You Don’t Have To Buy Another House


Many of our clients haven’t sold a home in a long time. The last time they sold a home there was a requirement to qualify for the capital gains exclusion you had to buy another home. That is no longer true. 


If you are selling a home you have lived in for 2 of the previous 5 years you should qualify for the capital gains exclusion of $250,000 per person ($500,000 per couple). You do not need to roll your profit into another home or buy another home at all to qualify for the exemption.


 


Thinking About Selling Your Home?


If you’re planning to sell your home in Austin, Cedar Park, Round Rock, or the surrounding area, decisions like whether to replace your roof can feel overwhelming. That’s where we can help. At Kopa Real Estate, we guide homeowners through the selling process, including which repairs or updates will give you the best return on investment.


Contact us today to schedule a consultation and find out the smartest steps to get your home market-ready.


                                                          


If you plan to sell your home, now is the best time to attend our Free Home Selling Seminars. If you want to attend a seminar, contact us, and we will notify you when they are scheduled. As always, you can check KopaSeminar.com to see the dates and times of our in-person and online Free Home Selling Seminars. For years, home sellers have told me they benefited from attending our events. Sign up for our Free Home Selling Seminar in Austin or Cedar Park at KopaSeminar.com.





                                                          


The information on this page may have changed since we first published it. We give great real estate advice, but this page (and the rest of our site) is for informational use only and is no substitute for actual real estate, legal and financial advice. If you’d like to establish a Broker-client relationship, reach out to us and we’ll tell you how we can make it official. Sending us an email or reading this page alone doesn’t mean we represent you.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 10 Oct 2025 19:40:00 -0500</pubDate>
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