I just read a very interesting article on Yahoo! News. As many of you know the rebate check will be sent out starting May 9th.

If you have kids or retired parents they can be expecting a check as well. Here is a great read to help you figure out where to put the money your kids will receive.

http://biz.yahoo.com/ibd/080502/funds.html?.v=1

Rutherford West is a master planned community approx. 612 Acres. 325 Acres of
the community is to be left undisturbed, open green space.

Be sure to check out the community web site! www.RutherFordWest.com

Rutherford West is located just East of Driftwood on FM 963. It's also just down the road from the famous Salt Lick BBQ!

I have two lots for sale in this community priced at $85,000 and $95,000. They both exceed 1.5+ Acres. Both lots are very level and located on Brangus Road. There are several homes built surrounding these two lots. These are one of the few lots left for sale in this estate community.

The neighborhood is a green friendly community! You can find more information about the existing green built homes in this community at www.rutherfordwest.com. 

Homes start from the $300's.

You can see in the pictures below that are very LARGE mature Live Oaks Trees throughout the two properties. 

Lots 12A Below

Lots 14A Below

To get more information on these two lots please contact me. I can send you a copy of the neighborhood plat or survey if you wish. 

Christopher Watters, Realtor
Texas Ranch & Home Realty

Phone: 512.567.1597

Job growth and the performance of employers in the Austin area directly correlates to changes in real estate prices. I assume this post will make many homeowners feel good about one of their biggest investments! 

Silicon Lab Posts HUGE First Quarter Profits!

The Austin chip company reported a profit of $155.6 million! Silicon Laboratories revenue in the first quarter was $111.8 million, with a profit of $10.8 million. This revenue excludes the sale of its wireless chips divison to NXP Semiconductors (European Chip Company).

As a recent finance graduate, I would bet that more than likely the sale of this division was to help streamline its company and be more focused on its various communication equipment chips and other misc equipment the company produces. With the sale of its wireless chips division the company should in the future post high profit margins.

After the sale Silicon Labs showed about $666 million in cash and short-term securities. Silicon Labs is expected to use some of its liquidity to carefully find one or more companies in a related business to acquire.

Much of the companies growth this year is expected to come from its transmitter chips, FM Receiver chips, and other Micro-Controllers.

After NXP who acquired Silicon Labs Chip division finds new office space, Silicon Labs expects to consolidate all of its Austin operations into the downtown location off Cesar Chavez St.

To conclude this blog - keep buying real estate in Austin Texas! If you're looking to invest or buy a home for yourself, call me. I know the in and outs of the Austin area Market! 512.567.1597

Salvation Army opening Round Rock store.

At a really young age I had the opportunity to tour the salvation army in downtown Austin.  It was eye opening to see what a difference it was making in peoples lives. Its great to hear that the Salvation Army will be opening a store in the Round Rock area.

The Austin area salvation army is opening its fifth family store and the FIRST in Round Rock Texas! The store will be located at 601 W. Louis Henna Blvd. AKA Builders will be the general contractors. The opening is expected to happen in late May.

The store is going to be over 25,000 square feet! It will sell clothing, home accessories, furniture, books and sporting goods.

If your interested in making a donation the central donation center is located at 4216 S. Congress Ave.

Donate To Salvation Army!

BEST PRICED CONDO IN THE MILAGO ON THE 10th FLOOR!

Unit 1015 

$239,000 - Priced to SELL! 

This is downtown living at its finest! 

Features Include:

756 Sq. Ft. 1 Bed - 1 Bath W/  Balcony
Mohogany Flooring
Stainless Steel Appliances
Granite Countertops
Track Lighting
Large Private Balcony
Fitness Room
24 Hour Concierge  Service
Wifi Lounge
Rooftop Pool

Exits from building to Lady Bird Hike & Bike Trail   

Check out the virtual tour:

http://www.floorplanhost.com/54rainey1015/

 If you'd like to schedule an appointment to view this condo please call me at the number listed below! 

Christopher Watters, Realtor
Texas Ranch & Home Realty
Phone: 512.567.1597

Great NEWS Greater Austin Texas area homeowners!! 

Forbes.com rated Austin Texas as No. 3 for best cities across the country to sell your home!  You can read the Top 10 list for yourself at :

Forbes Top 10 Cities for Home Sellers

Note to Austin Homeowners:

It's important you remember although Austin has been seeing appreciation in home values, the number of qualified buyers out there dropped by 13% due to the lending crisis! There are many homes sitting on the market right now. It's important you find a realtor that will use the power of the internet to advertise your home to potential buyers across the country.  Especially since over 80% of buyers begin their home search online! Please contact me now so we can discuss how I can prevent your home from being one of the many sitting on the market, that won't be sold.   

Recession, Lending Crisis, Credit Crisis, Market Crash & Foreclosures!

What more can i say? When could you ever imagine a better time than NOW to be negotiating on the purchase of a home, especially with so many out there to choose from!?

Austin Texas area real estate values have been very well insulated against the broader slump experienced by millions of homeowners across the country. In Austin Texas home values continue to appreciate. But, it's important many potential buyers know that even though homes are still appreciating, the number of homes sold in Austin decreased by 13%, which means to you potential buyers - negotiating power!

So whats that mean to you as a potential homeowner? Well, homes are sitting on the market far longer than before, some of them don't even sell! They are rejected! Right now your negotiating power is at its peak! If your looking to buy in the Austin Texas area you have the opportunity to buy in a buyers market and home values are still predicted to RISE!

Your probably wondering how can the number of home sales be on the decline and real estate values continue to increase? It's important to remember that you can't correlate the number of home sales with real estate appreciation. Although the demand for homes in the area does play slightly into the equation, its important to factor in how well the local economy and job market is doing. Those two factors have a much BIGGER impact on local real estate values. If you didn't know, Austin has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country!

If your looking for a place to put your money, Austin real estate is the place to be! Rents on single family homes continue to rise , as well as the number of qualified potential tenants. The stock market is extremely Volatile. Austin Texas real estate is NOT!

Let me help you find your next home or investment property and show you how to leverage the negotiating power we have in this market! You can reach me on my cell phone at 512.567.1597

Great NEWS Everyone!

A judge in the Eastern District of California by the name of Judge Lawrence K. Karlton upheld Nehemiah's Motion for summary judgment and invalidated the U.S. Dept. Of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rule to ban private down payment assistance programs proposed in the, "Standards for Mortgagor's Investment in Mortgaged Property"regulation published October 1, 2007 

I'm very excited with the courts decision to support low and moderate income families across the country by ruling against the HUD's attempt to ban private down payment assistance programs.

Just so I'm clear - the rule can not be enforced by HUD and will not be a threat to down payment assistance programs.

The Nehemiah Program is the nations largest privately held down payment assistance program. For first time homeowners and those who meet the qualifications to apply for the Nehemiah Down Payment Assistance program, you can read more about this program on their web site http://www.nehemiahcorp.org/

I personally was able to buy my first home while in college using this program. I'm very familiar with it and if you would like, I can speak to you more about this program personally. Please don't hesitate to call me. Phone: 512.567.1597

After recently hearing about the approval by the Round Rock City
Council to acquire funding in the  amount of $18.9 Million for park
improvements I was really excited! The park gets so much use
by nearby residents that the fields are starting to show fatigue.
You can check out all of the information on the projected completion
of the improvements, as well as what all this project will include by
visiting the following web site Old Settlers Park.

In the spring time there are always patches of Blue Bonnets and
wild flowers spread out across the park. As you can see from the
pictures I took last weekend, this is the prime season for families
to head out there with their kiddos and take family photos!

The park is popular for its array of sport courts offered including soccor,
baseball, softball, tennis courts, swimming, frisbee golf, and more!
This is also a city hot spot On July 4th. (I make it a priority to see
the phenomenal fireworks display they put on at Old Settlers Park.)

As a Round Rock resident I've been going to Old Settlers Park for
over 10+ years. It has one of the longest frisbee golf courses in the
country that I enjoy year round! Not to mention it's a great place for
dogs. If you can't tell by the pictures posted next to my blog I LOVE
taking my dog there!

I hope everyone gets a chance to head over to Old Settlers Park and
enjoy the BlueBonnets! If your a tourist this is a must see place!