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 […]
What to Expect at Closing
Closing is the last step in the Austin home buying process. It’s when you go to the title company to sign the papers and officially become the owner of your new home. If you’re looking to buy a house and are curious what to expect at closing, here’s a brief rundown. Prior to Closing A […]
Can a Buyer Do Repairs on a Home Before Closing?
Austin home buyers sometimes ask if they are able to do repairs on a home before closing. This usually comes up with houses that don’t qualify for financing (homes with no stove, no heater, missing toilets, etc). For the purposes of the question allow me to greatly oversimplify. The answer is “No” even if the […]
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 Accurate are Austin Property Tax Estimates?
Property taxes can make a significant difference in affordability for Austin home buyers. Tax rates range from about 1.7-3.4% (varies by neighborhood) of your home’s assessed value. Depending on your home’s assessed value, annual property taxes in Austin can be anywhere from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars per year. Because […]
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 […]
Key Term Tuesday: Deed (vs. Title)
We understand how frustrating it can be to search for a home in Austin. Half the battle is learning the key terms and what they mean in regards to Texas real estate. So each week we bring you Key Term Tuesday – our way of helping you decode the industry jargon that keeps you from […]
Key Term Tuesday: Notice of Default
We understand how frustrating it can be to search for a home in Austin. Half the battle is learning the key terms and what they mean in regards to Texas real estate. So each week we bring you Key Term Tuesday – our way of helping you decode the industry jargon that keeps you from […]
Key Term Tuesday: Owner Financing
We understand how frustrating it can be to search for a home in Austin. Half the battle is learning the key terms and what they mean in regards to Texas real estate. So each week we bring you Key Term Tuesday – our way of helping you decode the industry jargon that keeps you from […]
5 Things Only Austin Home Buyers Understand: You Don’t Need 20% Down to Buy a House
Buying a home in Austin is unlike buying a home in any other city. And if you’ve already completed a home search here, you understand a few things about the market that home buyers in other markets don’t get. If this is your first search, you might be looking for some insight. Our 5 Things […]