Go to search properties and change the drop down menu from single family home to lease.  It’s that easy.  You can schedule a showing by calling or emailing.  We are here to help with ALL of your real estate needs!

I’m looking to purchase my first home this year. What are my first steps?
Courtney C.

Thanks for your question Courtney. I believe that the first step in the home buying process is always to consult with your bank or a mortgage loan officer. I can certainly help you by referring you to a professional lender that will go over your financial snapshot, make loan product recommendations, discuss interest rates and see that your loan closes on time. All lenders charge closings costs. These cost may vary from lender to lender so it makes sense to do a little shopping. Once a lender gets an idea of your financial picture (income, debts, credit score) they will issue a pre-qualification letter to you and your Realtor. The amount and type of loan you qualify for can make a big difference in where you start shopping for a home. Good luck and remember Austin’s Go To Team can help find the perfect home for you!

Have a Real Estate Question? Ask Us!

You should be prepared to put between at least 10-15% down.  HOA is $250 per month.

This condo will probably be under contract by the end of the week.  Call or email me today to schedule a showing.

I bought my condo in North Austin 2 years ago.  How do I know when it’s a good time to sell and buy a home?  Or, in the interim, how do I know if I should refinance?
Madeyline

Thanks for your question. As we all know the real estate market fluctuates as do reasons for buying a selling. It costs money to buy and sell, so some people want to make sure they are getting a good deal. Since you purchased 2 years ago, you probably haven’t gained much equity. It usually takes several years before a home has gained enough equity to turn around and sell. Of course, this depends on when a home was purchased, where it is, etc. You will probably want to stay for another couple of years in order to gain some equity. Now this would not be the case if you have just won the lottery!

Which brings us to a good point about refinancing. Again, it costs money to refinance a home, so you will want to weigh how much money you are saving per month vs how much it is costing you to refinance. For example, let’s say that your mortgage payment is $1000 per month. Your refinance could cost $2000 and will bring your payment down to $900 per month. Therefore, you are saving $100 per month on your mortgage. It will take you 20 months to recoup the amount of money it cost you to refi. If you are planning on staying in the property for 20+ months, it would be a good idea to refinance. If you are planning on selling before then, you should hold tight.

Have a Real Estate Question? Ask Us!

As the old adage goes, ‘Buy Low and Sell High.’  Well, the housing market is certainly low. Foreclosures, Short Sales, and limited pool of buyers have brought housing prices down in a lot of areas around Austin. Now is the time to negotiate.

Additionally, interest rates are lower than they have been in 25 years. With interest rates near 4.5% on 30 year loans, buyers can save money on their mortgage.  A couple of years ago, interest rates were at 6.5%. On a $280,000 house, you can save about $250 per month… that’s $3000 per year!

If you are waiting for the housing market to rebound, you are basically waiting for prices and interest rates to go up. Call me if you are ready to make the move. 512-699-0786

The real estate investment firm said the city is forecast to add 19,100 jobs this year, prompting a rush of new residents and a rise in demand for residential rentals. At the same time, the apartment development pipeline has drastically thinned out, with 2,860 new units expected this year, down from 10,340 in 2009.

All of these factors will put upward pressure on pricing, Marcus & Millichap reported, and average rent is expected to rise 2.4 percent to $864 a month. The average slid 3 percent last year. At the same time, the end of the first-time homebuyers’ incentive will keep would-be homebuyers in the rental market.

The near South Central part of the city is expected to experience to highest decline in vacancy, a 5.1 percent shift to 7.2 percent. Though the North Travis area will have the lowest vacancy at 7 percent. Southeast is expected to see the highest vacancy at 11.1 percent, which is mostly stable from 2009. Central Austin is the only region where vacancy rates will rise, jumping 3.6 percent to 9.4 percent, likely because of its highest average rent of about $1,014.

Courtesy of the Austin Business Journal

The NRDC study looked at a number of factors in determining which cities made the cut. Among these were usage factors such as the percentage of energy derived from renewable sources as well as the amount of energy used per capita. In addition, the study also considered whether or not community-wide planning geared towards anticipating future energy use was in place.

The study cites Austin’s strengths in distributed energy production, use of renewables including wind and the city’s climate protection plan as justification for inclusion on the smarter cities list.

In addition to energy usage, the Smarter Cities initiative plans to rank cities on ten additional sustainability factors including transportation, water issues, green building, smart growth, environmental justice, waste prevention, food security, air quality, green space and standard of living. City rankings for these additional categories will be released over the coming months.

In the large city category, Austin was joined by Dallas and El Paso while Denton, Texas made the grade in the small city category.

About This Property

Model Home open Friday-Sunday 12-6 This 3 bedroom 2.5 bath house with the master bedroom downstairs is gorgeous. High ceilings as you walk through the front door to an open and inviting living area and kitchen. The kitche features granite counter tops with a island and room for bar stools. The master bedroom has a great closet and door to the patio. Upstairs you will find an open loft space that is perfect for an office, as well as two guest rooms and a full bath. We can build this floor plan on any lot.

Image Gallery