Austin’s river system is one of its most important natural beauties and greatest attractions. Owning waterfront property in Austin is a dream shared by many and it’s unique characteristics pose more potential traps than any other type or real estate. Whether you are looking to buy waterfront property on the Colorado River known around Austin […]
Great Photos Sell Homes
Smashing photography can sell an Austin home faster and for more money. Today’s home buyer uses the internet as their primary search tool and pictures are what buyers want to see. The more pictures, the better…interior, exterior, wide angle with as much detail and as many vantage points as possible. Taking extra photos of kitchens, […]
Rent vs Buy in Austin
Earlier this week, we talked about WalletHub’s 2017’s Best Big Cities to Live In; however, WalletHub also recently published 2017’s Best & Worst Places to Rent in America. (You can read the full article here.) On that list, Austin ranked #34 out of 150 U.S. cities. Basically Austin isn’t a great or terrible place to […]
8 Insider Home Buying Tips for Austin’s Hot Summer Market
Spring is in our rear view mirror, and Summer is almost here; so is our peak home buying season. Austin’s 2017 Summer housing market is heating up faster than the temperatures. If you’ve been looking for a home long, you’ve likely seen multiple offers on some of the homes you’ve liked. And, you may have […]
Property Tax Trends in Austin
We’ve written extensively on property tax rates in Austin and with good reason. Texas, as you may know, has no personal income tax. This makes property taxes and sales taxes the primary means of rising revenue and a unique income/expense situation for many relocating buyers. While it may be intimidating at first, being informed about […]
How to Determine Whether it is a Seller’s Market or Buyer’s Market
We often hear the term seller’s market or buyer’s market but it may not always be clear how agents determine what type of market we are currently experiencing. Here, we’ll show you how to determine whether it is a seller’s market or buyer’s market and what metrics agents use to distinguish between the two types […]
13 Warning Signs You’re Buying the Wrong Austin Condo
Condominium ownership is a very special kind of home ownership. There are a myriad of issues affecting how much you’ll enjoy living in the unit and what you can sell it for when you are ready. Recognizing the early warning signs of trouble and researching the potential risks is an important first step in the […]
Risks of Buying Short Sales in Austin
The only reason to buy a “short sale” or pre-foreclosure is to acquire the property below market value and save money. Most people think buying short sales is simply the owner trying to unload their home for less than market value for a quick sale. While that is true, the owner is not the only […]
Should I Buy a Home with a Foundation Problem?
Foundation problems are not uncommon in Central Texas. Our clay soil expands or contracts as the moisture content in the soil changes throughout the year. The expansion and contraction of the soil can place disproportionate stresses on the foundation causing it settle. Settlement in one area may not be the same in other areas, thus […]
5 Keys to Buying in Austin’s Strong Seller’s Market
As a home buyer in today’s Austin housing market, you’re undoubtedly at your wit’s end trying to find your dream home. Even when you do find a home you love, you’re competing with all cash offers and bidding wars driving the sales price above what it’s listed for and many times, even above what the […]