Those of you relocating to Austin from other parts of the country might not be familiar with the idea of getting a property survey as part of your purchase documentation. Invariably, usually because of the cost, the question arises whether or not you really need a survey when you buy a home in Austin? The […]
Buyer Beware!
What should buyers be aware of during their home search? Any land mines they should watch out for? Find out some of our best buyer cautionary tips on our Buyer Beware Blog.
Don't miss our Austin Home Buyer section and our Buying a Home in Austin Blog for more insider home buying tips!
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 […]
Why I Tell All My Buyers to Ignore Square Footage
Square footage is one of the metrics most buyers focus on when buying a home in Austin. They think about the places they’ve lived, how big they were, and come up with an arbitrary number as to the minimum square footage they can live in. Though this works to a point, it is not a […]
What is a Pocket Listing and Who Benefits?
What is a pocket listing? “Pocket Listing” is the colloquial term for any active listing that is not entered into the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). In Austin, Texas, it’s called Austin Central Texas Realty Information Service (ACTRIS). The listing agent markets the property directly to the public circumventing the MLS and keeps the listing “in […]
The Dirt on Dirt in Austin – How to Protect Your Home
Austin is different. One major difference between where you are moving from and here is our local soil composition. Right now some of you might be thinking “who cares about dirt?” Well, if you are considering buying a home in Austin, you should know how soil conditions may affect your future home. Here’s the quick […]
Understanding Home Warranty Coverage
Home Warranty policies are contractual guarantees to repair or replace certain systems and/or components that malfunction within the time limits set forth in the contract with the payment of a premium and deductible. Essentially, home warranty protection programs are insurance against the limited risk of loss due to the malfunction or breakdown of specifically described […]
Truth About Buying Short Sales
In our previous post, we discussed the truth about selling short sales. Now, let’s take a look at the challenges facing the short sale buyer. Buy a Short Sale for Instant Equity? There’s a common misconception that a person can buy a short sale using the “ELF” formula. That is, make money the “Easy, Lucrative […]
5 Advantages & Disadvantages of Buying New Construction
Prospective home buyers in the Austin area have the choice whether to buy new construction or a resale. This post addresses the advantages and disadvantages of buying a newly constructed home from builder/developer. First, however, let me offer what I know is the soundest piece of advice about buying into a new sub-division: Discover the […]
Buying REOs (Foreclosures) – Fact vs Fiction
Foreclosures have presented a lure of a deal for years as the real estate market has had its ups and downs. Over the past few months, we’ve been hearing a lot of buyers with some incorrect ideas about how buying foreclosures in Austin works. Here are some foreclosure buying facts and fiction to help set […]