HOA’s are becoming more and more popular in Austin. In the 1980s and 1990s, few new single family home developments belonged to mandatory HOA’s. Today, virtually every new development has a mandatory membership in an HOA. Which usually begs the question from most buyers, how much are HOA dues in Austin? HOA Dues Vary by […]
Austin Home Buyer Tips
Looking for tips to make your home buying experience fun and stress fee? Want to learn what professional buyer's agents look for in a house? Find out our best buyer tips on our Austin Home Buyer Tips Blog.
Don't miss our Austin Home Buyer section, our Austin Home Buyer Blog and our First Time Home Buyers Blog for more insider home buying tips!
When Should I Get Pre-Approved?
If you’re thinking about buying a home, there is a lot to do to get prepared. Studies show buyers are researching 12-18 months in advance of purchasing. With this much lead time, we often get the question … “When should I get pre-approved?” We advise our clients to use an experienced lender as a resource […]
Why Do Buyers Need a New Survey?
Those of you relocating from other parts of the country – particularly from California like we did – are generally unfamiliar with the idea of getting a survey before purchasing a home in Austin. Buyers often ask: Why do buyers need a new survey? Well, here’s why. What is the Purpose of a Survey? A […]
What is the Termination Option?
The process of buying a home in Austin is a bit different than buying a home in other parts of the country. In most states, the purchase contract gives the buyer a free look at the property and allows them to cancel the contract for any reason during a negotiated period of time. If the […]
How Do I Find My Mailbox and Keys?
Finding your mailbox and how to get access to the mailbox is not the most self explanatory thing in Austin. When we bought our first home in Austin, we had no idea how to get our mail. If you’re one of the lucky homeowners who have a mailbox at the edge of their driveway, this […]
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 […]
Why Get a Home Inspection?
When you find your house and get in contract, it is an extremely exciting time and also a very busy time. The option period (usually the first 4-7 days of the escrow period) is when you bring out inspectors to help you learn exactly what you’re buying. It is not something buyers do frequently, so […]
When It Comes to Home Buying, My Dad Had The Best Negotiation Advice
While haggling may be commonplace around the world, save for country fairs, open markets and occasional trips abroad, it is a skill not commonly utilized by Americans. While it is true that during those trips to the Moroccan souk, we gleefully delight in bringing the cost of an item down to half the offered price, […]
Tips for Women Home Buyers
Women are becoming a larger and larger percentage of the Austin home buyer population. When you’re a single woman planning to live alone or about to start a family looking for single family homes, you want to pay special attention to the safety and security of the area. Here are some tips for women home […]
How to Research an Austin Neighborhood
When you’re looking to buy a new home, you’ll want to gather as much information about a particular neighborhood as possible. The more you can learn about the neighborhood before you buy, the higher the likelihood you’ll enjoy living there for longer. We’ve put together a guide to help you research Austin area neighborhoods. Here […]