When your buyer has Champagne Taste and a Beer Budget - 06/30/09 11:29 AM
It is a very old saying, Champagne Taste and a Beer Budget, I think I have heard it most of my life, meaning someone wants what their pocketbook and checkbook will not allow. 
This past weekend I had that buyer in my car, sure I could find them the home they specified, 2700 sq ft, 4 bedrooms, 2 living rooms, large kitchen, gameroom, big yard and ample garage space and not more than 10 years old.  Budget was about $250,000, hummmmm, well that can still be a do-able situation in parts of South Austin.  There are neighborhoods that fit MOST of … (14 comments)

Some sayings say it all... - 06/29/09 12:47 PM
As I was wandering through the Hobby Lobby recently I saw this little wall plaque, it was sitting on a display rack all alone, I am not sure if the store was rearranging that shelfing or if all the related items had already been sold but this little plaque was all alone and so it was calling to me to come over and visit. 
  This is for my friend at Marine 1 Realty. I think she knows who she is as do many others of you.
So just remember ladies, LIPSTICK FIXES EVERYTHING.  What more could we ask for?
… (14 comments)

WOW... it's a Hot One, showing in the mid day sun - 06/29/09 09:14 AM
OK, this is Texas, it is a place known of the hot summers and this year the summer sun is out in full force, at 8:00am yesterday it was over 80 degrees, I had appointments to show homes at 11:00 am til 2:00... if you have lived around these parts you know we are walking down the streets and around the backyards in 95-100 degree heat. 
This year we have had the typical August dog days of summer hit us in June, 12 days of over 100 degree heat, many record breaking for that day, 103, 104 degrees.  No matter where … (11 comments)

THINGS I LEARNED FROM BEING RAISED IN TEXAS - 06/17/09 09:15 AM
ALTHOUGH I WASN'T BORN IN TEXAS IT IS MY ADOPTED HOME NOW AND I TRULY LOVE IT HERE, I CAN ATTEST THAT THESE ARE FACTUAL STATEMENTS. 
THINGS I LEARNED FROM BEING RAISED IN TEXAS
Armadillos sleep in the middle of the roadwith their feet in the air.
There are 5,000 types of snakes on earth and 4,998 live in Texas .
There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000live in Texas , plus a couple no one's seen before.
If it grows, it sticks; if it crawls, it bites.
'Twiced' is a word.
People actually grow and eat okra
'Fixinto' is one word.
There … (14 comments)

30% off, Zillow admits they are not accurate in Austin Texas and Denver Colorado, - 06/16/09 11:50 AM
Zillow is engaged in conversation with Sky Realty Austin, President, Curtis Reddehase about the fact that Sky Realty office is no longer syndicating listings to Zillow and like minded sites.   Following is the letter that a Zillow representative wrote to Curtis and then Curtis'  reply. 
This all came about because of the Sky Realty public stance on no longer syndicating listings.The following is comment on my post We no Longer Syndicate Our Listings
                                                 ***************************************** 
Thursday, June 4th, 2009 at 11:41 PM: Curtis, Spencer from Zillow here. You and I have never met, and I regret that. So please don't take this … (15 comments)

Nicks Poem - 06/08/09 05:56 PM
Something to share with everyone at the end of this fine June day .. as a reflection.  As many of you know I have 3 delightful grandsons.  Of course I am extremely proud of each one of them, but here today, I have to brag on my oldest grandson, Nick...  I was going thru his end of the school year folder and I ran across this poem.  It's his original work and I thought it was wonderful coming from a thoughtful 12year old boy. So here I am sharing it with all...
A POEM by Nick    I sat on the sand   … (11 comments)

Market Report for Circle C Ranch, May 2009 - 06/08/09 04:58 PM
What is selling in Circle C Ranch?  How much is the price per square foot? These are a couple of questions I will attempt to answer here, the data related is from the Austin MLS system, for the Month of May 2009, obtained, June 8, 2009.
Sold Units:  (residential homes)   sold units  29 in May 2009  ....     sold units 19 in May 2008 
 Average Sold Price:          May 2009      $318,988.00     .......       May 2008   $319,125.00
Average Price Per Sq Ft.    May 2009      $111,18           .......       May 2008   $115.15
Average Days on Market     May 2009        97 days                      May 2008    64 days
Averages are just that... highs, lows, everything rolled together and … (2 comments)

Market Report for Village at Western Oaks, May 2009 - 06/08/09 09:47 AM
The Village at Western Oaks is a sprawling part of Southwest Austin, its families, business people, singles, everyone can and does live in this tree lined community, home to many great parks, like Dick Nichols public park and pool.
Here are some of the details of what has been going on in the Real Estate market in this area for May 2009.
Currently there are 29 active listings,  priced from $210,000- $334,000. 
Currently there are 19 pending listings.  under contract.
Sold activity for May 2009  9 properties, priced average $229,421 with an average square footage price of $123.11, average days on … (4 comments)

Celebrate the Freedom of America ~ Fireworks on the 4th of July - 06/06/09 08:34 AM
To those Communities who are contemplating a cancellation of the 4th of July celebration, fireworks.. here is my plea to you.   Think of what you are giving up.  sure times are tough in many areas now, but doesn't that mean we may need a glimpse and glimmer of hope in an evening of fun.  
What the fireworks mean to me, when I hear those "bombs bursting in air"  I can smell the powder and hear the musket shots of the Minutemen, the fireworks of the Revolution the one that separated us from England, the making of our AMERICA the FREE.  … (11 comments)

Rescue me... - 06/04/09 08:27 PM
We have a visitor at our house, a cute little half grown raccoon.  Unfortunately he appears to be stuck or at a loss of what to do.. this afternoon we brought him some water in a small bowl, i think he is afraid to move and drink it.  We have now put a 2x6 board from the top of the post to the ground hoping he will find his way down.
Unfortunately we have 2 dogs that are not friendly to trespassers.  Squirrels normally have a 60 second lifespan if they wander into the dogs space.  I am hoping this little … (24 comments)

Combo Lockboxes and the trial and tribulations of them - 06/04/09 06:35 AM
In my area, Austin Texas we overwhelmingly use the Supra Lockbox.  Its safe, sturdy, easy to open, did you hear that.. EASY TO OPEN. Let me repeat that EASY TO OPEN. 
Last weekend I was showing some lease property to a very nice young couple and the parents.  In many situations we have holdouts that only put a COMBO LOCKBOX on the property. I understand the combo is for agents who are not members of our MLS system, agents who work primarily in the Lease/Rental field.  OK, I got that, I also know that I found all of these properties on … (27 comments)

It lives on .. and on.. and on... and on - 06/03/09 08:00 AM
Just musing today and staring at my keyboard, I was gently reminded by my friend Betina that I have not written a post in a week.  Why?  I don't really have an excuse, reason or can not put my finger on one.  Just haven't had the heart?
So I am determined to pull myself out of this slump, and I started looking at some of my old posts, you do know that they are still active don't you.  Some of them just keep growing, people keep searching for things and viola, an old post pops up.  So that's all good.  While … (11 comments)

 

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