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 […]
If I Pay Cash for a Home Can I Get a Lower Price?
If I pay cash for a home can I get a lower price? At most price levels, especially the bottom 50% of the housing market, the answer is probably “no.” Even when a lender is financing the purchase, the seller is going to get 100% of the agreed upon sales price. Today, qualified buyers can […]
How to Evaluate Which Condo is Right for You
Finding the perfect condominium is an unrealistic expectation, but finding the right condominium for you is realistic when you pay attention to the details. The key question to ask yourself before buying a condo is: “How much will I enjoy living in this unit?” How to Evaluate Which Condo is Right for You? The Downtown […]
What Site Should I Use to Research Austin School Ratings?
The Texas Education Agency used to have an easy to understand school rating system with four ratings: Exemplary, Recognized, Academically Acceptable and Academically Unacceptable. They rated districts and individual schools on this system. It was very easy to understand and allowed residents to quickly recognized top rated schools. Unfortunately, they’ve phased out the four tiered […]
How Much is Homeowners Insurance in Austin?
Homeowners insurance is one of those costs that is not really understood by most home buyers. A lender might go over the general concept and include an estimate of what homeowner’s insurance might be, but that’s about it until the home buyer actually shops for home insurance a week or so before closing. The cost […]
Best Places to Stay When Visiting Austin
If you’re planning a trip to Austin to determine whether or not it might be a place you’d consider moving, where you stay will have a huge influence on whether or not you like the city. Where are the best places to stay when visiting Austin? Downtown Austin Downtown Austin is probably the best place […]
Gave Up on Your Home Search During Spring? Time to Get Started Again!
There were more than a few home buyers who got frustrated and decided to put off their home search last Spring. Experiencing that frenzied market myself with multiple offers, overbids and cash buyers, I can completely understand why a buyer would want to take a break. It was emotionally draining, especially if you weren’t successful. […]
Factors that Predict Austin Housing Prices
Real estate professionals are often asked to predict the direction of Austin home prices, and any responsible professional will tell you that accurately predicting home prices is frankly impossible. There are, however, numerous resources available that allow a trained professional to render an educated approximation. Factors that Influence Austin Home Prices In this series of […]