Downtown, Central and East Austin Real Estate

41 Waller: A Shining Example of East Side Gentrification

Garreth Wilcock Central East Austin Real Estate (Keller Williams) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:38:18 -0600

East of Downtown Austin: 41 Waller is a new condominium development near Downtown Austin just east of IH-35, representing just some of the incredible changes seen to the East Side of Austin in recent years. The location of 41 Waller is perfect for anyone who wants to be close to downtown without having to pay steep downtown prices. You will be biking distance to eats 'n treats such as Progress Coffee, Iron Works BBQ, Mongolian BBQ and PF Changs, just to scratch the surface. You will also be biking distance to 6th St, and not have to worry about catching a cab home! Being so close to so many Austin attractions will surely save you time and gas money!

You might find yourself asking, But what features does 41 Waller offer on the inside? Good question! Here are many of the features you can expect to find at 41 Waller:

Stackable washer and dryer connections
Bosch Energy Star stainless steel appliances
Pre-wired for a surround sound home audio system, which can be used for just the living room or the whole house!
Internet work station
Ultracraft cabinets with 6-way adjustable hinges and automatic drawer closers (Author's note: I have no idea how this works but it sounds pretty cool!)
Remote controlled ceiling fans
Granite counter tops
Energy Star Armana 14 SEER/12 EER heating/cooling system
Wet bath with rain shower head and traverline tiled walls with inlaid glass tile
Installed security system

These homes start pricing in the low $200k's. According to the website, many have sold and there are only three left at this time.

Garreth Wilcock is a Realtor in Downtown and East Austin. Search Austin homes for sale at his website.

Akoya Condos: Highlighting South Lamar's Transition to the Trendy "SoLa"

Garreth Wilcock Central East Austin Real Estate (Keller Williams) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:27:37 -0600

South Lamar District: As we all know, huge parts of Austin have been seeing some exciting change in the last few years. South Lamar is one such district, with new condominium projects, an emphasis on "green business" and above all else a passion for Keeping Austin Weird. The Akoya Condominiums embodies the changes seen along SoLa, while remaining affordable and uniquely Austin. Akoya has been designed as a 4-star green building by the Michael Hsu Design Office. It's located in the heart of the SoLa district, close to many Austin favorites like Alamo Drafthouse, Uchi, Mr. Natural, Taco Xpress, Yoga Yoga, Music Lab and a short drive to Zilker Park.

What kind of amenities can you come to expect of the Akoya Condiminiums? For one, each unit has a unique design in relationship to its location on the property. Some units come with private terraces and courtyard views. All units feature bamboo wood floors throughout, washer and dryer units included and in upgraded units there is a glass tile backsplash in the kitchen. For those who take cooking seriously, the kitchen features granite slab countertops and a glass top stove. There is a pool and an outdoor community cooking area in the courtyard. The Akoya Condominiums is the first 4-star green condominium complex built in South Austin. The "greeneries" of this condo conversion include energy efficient double pane glass windows and energy efficient HVAC systems.

How much would a person pay for Austin Urban Living at its finest? These days, 2 bedroom units are averaging around $218,000. Hard to believe you can have green living at such an affordable price, but there it is!

Garreth Wilcock is a Realtor working in South Austin. Search Austin Homes for sale at his website.

Take The Last Train to Clarksville and Maybe Find a New Home!

Garreth Wilcock Central East Austin Real Estate (Keller Williams) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:13:44 -0600

West of Downtown Austin: Clarksville features uniquely quiet living in an old-style neighborhood with cute victorian houses. What makes this unique though is the proximity to Downtown Austin and the burgeoning 6th & Lamar "Design District".

The location of Clarksville is a jewel within Austin; so close to MoPac for easy commutes, walking distance to the Westward-expanding Downtown area, Austin Community College's Rio Grande Campus, or, if you're looking for a night on the town, you can walk to Shoal Creek Saloon for a meal and some drinks without worrying about having to drive back or catch a cab.

Amazingly, Clarksville is still able to be a quiet and quaint neighborhood, despite being so close to all the craziness of Downtown Austin. Of course, having the best of both worlds like this comes at a price, as a home in Clarksville can average up to $500,000. However, compared to other cities such as San Francisco where such a location would cost you upwards of 2.5mil, this is actually quite a deal!

The homes in Clarksville were mostly built in the 1920s and 1930s, though over the years they have all seen numerous renovations. The upshot of this is many homes still have gorgeous hardwood flooring and an "old style charm", the downside though is many of these homes have not been updated to have more modern conveniences such as dish washers and central air conditioning (never fear, heat haters: all homes feature window units at the very least). Clarksville is almost certainly one of Austin's crown jewel neighborhoods- are you going to take the last train and become our neighbor?

Garreth Wilcock is a Realtor working in Downtown Austin. Search Austin homes for sale at his website. (The Last Train To Clarksville is a Monkees song!)

How to find an apartment in Austin

Garreth Wilcock Central East Austin Real Estate (Keller Williams) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:02:32 -0600

Type "Austin apartments" into google and you'll get a splurge of sites offering to tell you about what's out there.

They may be giving you a skewed result though. As Abe points out in his own site, many of the apartment sites are sponsored to show you certain results first. The sites have no fiduciary duty to show you what you ask for.

So how do you find the right apartment in Austin? There are plenty of apartment locators out there, and the same as the website search results, they're the target of apartment complex marketing. Some apartments pay more finders fees than others, and get a larger mindshare in the locator community.

That's why I like Abe's Austin Apartment site. I came across it last week. It's like a craigslist version of an apartment mls. All it has is data on apartments. No fees change hands.

The site is still working on the data feed to keep the content fresh - prices vary rapidly to address changes in housing supply. I hope the model works and it grows in popularity.

Garreth Wilcock is an Austin EcoBroker. You can search Austin homes for sale at his website.

Austin City Lofts - Million Dollar View?

Garreth Wilcock Central East Austin Real Estate (Keller Williams) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:26:44 -0600

In the heart of Austin's downtown redevelopment district are Austin City Lofts at 800 W 5th St. What do you get for the $321/sqft condos built in 2003/4?

First the location is pretty handy - it's pretty much at the corner of West and 5th. Convenient if you want to run around Ladybird Lake, or wander over to Whole Foods. You'd be pretty darned close to Hut's Hamburgers too if you fancied a reasonable burger in a crowded popular space. Aquarelle is just a few blocks away. In essence this is downtown living where entertainment is not a drive away.

The 14 floor residential building has 82 units from just over 1000sqft to just over 3000sqft with an average size of 1770sqft. Here are a few of the facilities:

24 hour concierge
Pool
Gym
Controlled access covered parking
Private balconies
Garden area
Views of the Capitol / Town Lake / Shoal Creek

Units sold in the last year have ranged from $500,000 to around $1m for a 2 bedroom unit. There's also a unit for lease for $5000 per month.

What I like about the lofts are the huge windows - the unit are light inside, and with 11 foot / 20 foot ceilings and dramatic views, you don't feel like you're in the middle of a 600,000 person city. That might be worth a million dollars.

Garreth Wilcock is a Realtor working in Central, East and Downtown Austin. Search Austin condos for sale at his website.

Austin’s Colony – Secluded Country Living 20 Minutes From Downtown Austin.

Garreth Wilcock Central East Austin Real Estate (Keller Williams) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:38:51 -0600

East Austin: Austin's Colony: Have you ever imagined owning your own slice of country living, while still only being 20 minutes from Downtown Austin?

At Austin’s Colony, you need can get a bit of both. This small but expanding neighborhood features houses at affordable prices in lush, rural settings. What makes this neighborhood so great is that it’s still a hop, skip and a jump to many major highways and Austin’s urban areas, as well as Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

Located less than 20 minutes east of the hustle and bustle of the city, the neighborhood of Austin’s Colony is a secluded neighborhood, perfect for those looking to live in a rural environment abundant with parks, rivers and equestrian trails without sacrificing any amenities.

This neighborhood is very secluded, perfect for quiet living; in one direction you will find the beautiful Colorado River Park, perfect for picnics and swimming. (Thanks to the river bank backing up to the neighborhood, you will be able to enjoy the water in peace without noisy through-traffic.)

Just up the road in the other direction you will find easy access to all the amenities you could need on Farm-to-Market Road 969, including schools, grocery stores and restaurants for all tastes.

So what’s the latest news around Austin’s Colony is, you might ask? Currently, a brand new, state-of-the art middle school is being constructed and will be open in the Fall of 2010. Also, an updated neighborhood center is currently in the planning stages, according to the Austin’s Colony Home Owners Association

Garreth Wilcock is an East Austin Realtor. Search Austin Homes at his website, or contact on 512 215 4785 for more details on Austin's Colony.

Northwest Austin Condo For Sale - Awesome Views

Garreth Wilcock Central East Austin Real Estate (Keller Williams) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:56:08 -0600

Garreth Wilcock | Keller Williams | 512-215-4785

6800 Old Quarry, Austin, TX

Walkable, energy efficient condo

2BR/1.5BA Condo

offered at $147,750

Year Built	1982
Sq Footage	946
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	1 full, 1 partial
Floors	2
Parking	2 Uncovered spaces
Lot Size	2,666 sqft
HOA/Maint	$183 per month

DESCRIPTION

Charming updated condo in very walkable Northwest Hills with magnificent views over the tree-tops. Updates include appliances, HVAC, water heater

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- Fireplace
- Walk-in closet	- Hardwood floor	- Tile floor
- Living room	- Breakfast nook	- Dishwasher
- Refrigerator	- Stove/Oven	- Stainless steel appliances
- Attic	- Laundry area - inside	- Balcony, Deck, or Patio
- Yard	- Swimming pool

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Guest parking

- Swimming pool(s)

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

- Majestic tree-top views

- 14+ SEER Energy Efficient HVAC

- Low-E Double pane windows for lower heat loss / gain

- Radiant barrier in attic to keep heat in / out

- Updated kitchen with vented range hood

- Glass fronted cabinets in kitchen

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

view	dining
kitchen hood	kitchen
powder	wood floors

Contact info:

Garreth Wilcock

Keller Williams

TREC lic#574729

512-215-4785

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Nov 3, 2009, 10:45am PST

Garreth Wilcock helps people sell homes in Northwest Austin.

Update on Homes At Mueller

Garreth Wilcock Central East Austin Real Estate (Keller Williams) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 23:23:21 -0500

The pace of new development has slowed at the old airport redevelopment in Austin. What is in store for the master planned Mueller development - when will there be a town center, grocery store, condos, or even the next development of new homes?

Today, Catellus lead on the Mueller project Greg Weaver came to address the Mueller Neighborhood Association. There are some excellent meeting minutes on the Mueller Community site which give an overview of what he said during the first part of the meeting.

Mueller homes sales in a nutshell

The condos are coming - the plans are approved and the builder is working on financing
The next phases of development are going to be incremental and may include Mueller Houses (multi-family homes that look like large single family homes)
The affordable program is going to move forward in the next phase
The town center is 3+ years out
Plans for the grocery store are still cooking
Expect announcements in the next 60 days about the coming developments

East Austin Homes: Remodeled Masterpiece

Garreth Wilcock Central East Austin Real Estate (Keller Williams) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:48:23 -0500

Garreth Wilcock | Keller Williams | 512-215-4785

6911 Dubuque Lane, Austin, TX

Exquisite Remodel in Upper East Side

3BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $190,000

Year Built	1977
Sq Footage	1,802
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	2 Uncovered spaces
Lot Size	6,392 sqft
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Cute as a button - fabulous from floor to ceiling in this complete remodel. Professional interior design has left its mark on this fantastic ranch home.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- Fireplace
- High/Vaulted ceiling	- Walk-in closet	- Tile floor
- Family room	- Breakfast nook	- Dishwasher
- Stove/Oven	- Granite countertop	- Stainless steel appliances
- Laundry area - inside	- Balcony, Deck, or Patio	- Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Clubhouse	- Swimming pool(s)	- Tennis court(s)
- Golf course	- Lake	- Playground

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

- Beautiful tile detail in kitchen and baths

- Whirlpool bath and separate shower in master bath

- Huge master suite with patio doors

- Charming landscaping

- Expansive open kitchen with breakfast island

- Converted garage is bonus storage

- High ceilings and skylight in living room

- New roof with ridge vents

- Under cabinet lighting

- High end granite in kitchen and baths

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 2
Photo 3	Photo 4

Contact info:

Garreth Wilcock

Keller Williams

TREC lic#574729

512-215-4785

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Sep 29, 2009, 9:31pm PDT

East Austin Homes: Two homes For the Price of One

Garreth Wilcock Central East Austin Real Estate (Keller Williams) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:54:46 -0500

Garreth Wilcock | Keller Williams | 512-694-8873

2617 E3rd, Austin, TX

Not in MLS yet! Updated home with separate studio close to
Downtown, Ladybird Lake

2BR/1BA Single Family House

offered at $170,000

Year Built	1942
Sq Footage	912
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	1 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	3 Uncovered spaces
Lot Size	6,060 sqft
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Two homes for the price of one - large 2/1 in front and 1/1 in back. Deep shaded lot minutes from Lake, entertainment and Downtown. Large master bedroom, updated bathroom and new flooring throughout. The spacious kitchen has beautiful long leaf cabinets and plenty of room for dining. Only organic gardening techniques have been used - xeriscape or garden ready. First time buyers - get your $8000 tax credit!!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- Hardwood floor
- Tile floor	- Family room	- Living room
- Dining room	- Dishwasher	- Stove/Oven
- Laundry area - garage	- Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Lake

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

- New bamboo floors

- Long leaf cabinets

- Very shaded - oak, elm, pecan and catalpa

- Guest house with bathroom

- New electrical service

- Very large kitchen / dining

- So close to Downtown

- Rainbarrel

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Guest House	Photo 1
Photo 2	Photo 3
Photo 4	Photo 5
Photo 6	Water barrel
Long leaf cabinets	New floor

Contact info:

Garreth Wilcock

Keller Williams

TREC lic#574729

512-694-8873

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Sep 21, 2009, 8:42pm PDT

Garreth Wilcock helps people sell their East Austin Homes.

Mueller Austin Homes - Affordable Homes Available

Garreth Wilcock Central East Austin Real Estate (Keller Williams) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:52:56 -0500

There are two Mueller Austin Affordable Homes available right now, much to the surprise of everyone who is clammering to get into one. These two Longhorn plans from David Weekley will sell in the next few days due to pent up demand. If you'd like to be poised and ready to take advantage of the next ones, get in touch so that we can prepare for the next announcement.

Check out this short video where I talk about silver linings and clouds while standing in the rain at Lake Park, looking at the former affordable model home next to the $1.4m 2009 Parade of Homes masterpieces.

If you haven't heard of the affordable program, it's a shared equity appreciation model of home ownership. In a nutshell it means that you can live in Austin's fastest selling green neighborhood for as little as $155,000 in a new 3 star green home.

The program is income qualified - you need to earn less than 80% of the Austin median family income to apply.

East Austin Home: Cottage for $130,000

Garreth Wilcock Central East Austin Real Estate (Keller Williams) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:44:53 -0500

Check out this East Austin home I just listed for sale.

Garreth Wilcock is a Realtor® in East Austin. You can search Austin homes for sale at his website.

FHA Rules Changing.....Get Your Offers In Before October 1, 2009

Garreth Wilcock Central East Austin Real Estate (Keller Williams) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:05:10 -0500

If you thought that it was hard to buy a condo now, just wait until October 1st!

Via Karen Parsons-Fiddler (Great Western Realty Group):

I'm looking forward to the day I wake up and find good news in my inbox about financing....but it's probably a long time away yet. This morning I found a pdf from my lender on FHA financing. The bottom line is that beginning October 1st, 2009 we are going to find FHA condo loans almost impossible to fund, and listing agents are going to have to recommend that sellers do not take FHA offers.

The basics:

* Spot approval for condo projects will be eliminated

* All current condo approvals will be invalid and must be re-approved (unless the approval was done 10/1/08 or later)

* Projects must have no more than 10% of project owned by any one investor

* No more than 15% of owners can be in arrears (more than 30 days past due) with HOA dues

* 50% must be owner-occupied

* No more than 30% of the units can be insured by FHA

* Condo projects undergoing remodeling or improvement must be completed (including common areas) before FHA will approve project

* Condo project approval expires every two years and requires recertification

The backlog on new FHA loans is going to be tremendous!!!

A Big Thank You

Garreth Wilcock Central East Austin Real Estate (Keller Williams) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:52:39 -0500

My little Central and East Austin Real Estate Blog has been seeing some activity lately! I just found out from a colleague that the folks at Realtor.com published that mine is the second most popular featured blog on their platform. I'm humbled and amazed.

I just googled Austin Real Estate Blog and noticed I'm on the first page too which is nice. I'd like to thank everyone on ActiveRain for their tips and advice which have inspired me to write about real estate for the last few years, and for their encouragement.

In particular I'd like to thank Mariana Wagner for all her blog coaching, Northwest Austin's Brian Martin for all of his ideas and motivation, and my family for being so supportive. All this within a week of meeting my blog heroes Mariana Wagner and Jason Crouch!

Thanks everyone!

Garreth Wilcock is an Austin EcoBroker. You can search Austin homes for sale at his website.

Mueller Austin - Bike Friendly Realtor

Garreth Wilcock Central East Austin Real Estate (Keller Williams) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:31:09 -0500

Can you bike in and around Mueller Austin? Here's a quick cycle tour of Mueller so that you can see what it's like from a cyclist's point of view. Disclaimer - I'm not advocating cycling one-handed, and watch out for those stealth Prius cars sneaking up behind you!

Garreth Wilcock is a bike-friendly Realtor living and working in Mueller. He helps sell homes at Mueller and buyers find homes at Mueller.

Mueller Austin - Live Work Play Run Bike Swim!

Garreth Wilcock Central East Austin Real Estate (Keller Williams) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:24:01 -0500

Mueller Redevelopment Austin: I love my neighborhood! You can run, bike and swim in and around the development and live in a new green rated home close to downtown. Here is a video of the pool area - I'll follow up with a bicycle tour.

Garreth Wilcock is a Realtor living and working in Mueller. He helps sell homes at Mueller and buyers find homes at Mueller.

East Austin Homes: Get into University Hills

Garreth Wilcock Central East Austin Real Estate (Keller Williams) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:04:39 -0500

Garreth Wilcock | Keller Williams | 512-694-8873

Vanderbilt, Austin, TX

Castle in the trees in University Hills Austin

4BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $189,000

Year Built	1963
Sq Footage	1,692
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	2
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	0.2265 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Open plan home close to Mueller - this home boasts a large master down with a very open living space. Recent HVAC and remodeled bathroom. Huge corner lot with newer fencing and rare rear-entry garage. The towering trees offer shade and the open kitchen and living area with french doors to the patio are ideal for entertaining. Check out recent work at Dottie Jordan Park just down the road - a new pavillion coming soon! Still time to get the $8000 tax credit!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- Tile floor
- Living room	- Breakfast nook	- Dishwasher
- Refrigerator	- Stove/Oven	- Laundry area - garage
- Balcony, Deck, or Patio	- Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Swimming pool(s)	- Tennis court(s)	- Golf course
- Lake	- Playground

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

- Remodeled bath

- Corner lot

- Huge shade trees

- Stone clad front

- Vast master suite

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 2
Photo 3	Photo 4

Contact info:

Garreth Wilcock

Keller Williams

512-694-8873

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Aug 25, 2009, 5:49pm PDT

University Hills Austin : Funky Ranch For Sale

Garreth Wilcock Central East Austin Real Estate (Keller Williams) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:38:59 -0500

Garreth Wilcock | The Pinnacle Group at Keller Williams | 512-694-8873

3306 Loyola, Austin, TX

Funky, ranch style home close to UT, Mueller, downtown Austin

3BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $174,500

Year Built	1967
Sq Footage	1,771
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	12,278 sqft
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Move to the Upper East Side and enjoy a spacious updated funky ranch in mature neighborhood! Corner lot with huge shade trees hides an updated pearl. Lustrous flooring and lively decor make this stand out from the crowd. Slate floors, subway tile, double pane windows, new roof 2008.

Check out ample patios and vast sun room. Best value in UH. Five miles from downtown, close to Mueller and a few minutes walk from Dottie Jordan Park with pool, tennis and trails.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- Fireplace
- Hardwood floor	- Tile floor	- Family room
- Living room	- Bonus/Rec room	- Dining room
- Dishwasher	- Stove/Oven	- Washer
- Dryer	- Laundry area - garage	- Balcony, Deck, or Patio
- Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Swimming pool(s)	- Tennis court(s)	- Golf course
- Lake	- Playground

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

- Jogging/ Biking Trails at Dottie Jordan

- Designer Lighting

- Huge 388sqft conditioned sunroom

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Front Exterior	Covered Patio
Living Room	Kitchen
Sun Room	Master Bedroom

Contact info:

Garreth Wilcock

The Pinnacle Group at Keller Williams

512-694-8873

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jul 19, 2009, 7:52am PDT

Selling A Home In Austin - Location, Location, Location. Photos. Photos. Photos!

Garreth Wilcock Central East Austin Real Estate (Keller Williams) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:52:49 -0500

It’s true that the location of your home in Austin has a huge bearing on it’s desirability. An important part of marketing your home is putting the right information where people are looking, and the Austin Multiple Listing System has just been upgraded to get more info in front of buyers.

If you’re fishing, you can have the tastiest bait in the world, but if your hook is in the wrong part of the water, none of the fish are going to find it. It’s the same with marketing your home for sale. You have to put it in the right place, in front of the right buyers.

Every year, the National Association of REALTORS publishes a survey on home buying trends. In it, they chart such things as where people start looking for homes, and also where buyers find the homes they end up buying. Taking this into account when marketing a home for sale can make a big difference.

...Read the rest of the article for more on selling your home in Austin here.

Garreth Wilcock is a Realtor who provides data-backed marketing advice for Austin home sellers. You can search Austin homes for sale at his website.

Can We Beat 27%? Yes We Can!

Garreth Wilcock Central East Austin Real Estate (Keller Williams) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:41:23 -0500

The Energy Audit Ordinance is now in effect in Austin, meaning that the vast majority of Austin resale homes require a licensed energy auditor to check a home’s efficiency when it is sold. What are the results so far, and how is the process working?

The Statesman has an article reviewing the statistics from the first 310 home audits. There are no real surprises in the findings - Austin homes have leaky ducts.

The average duct air loss was 22% in the sample, which sounds pretty awful. It is - air loss wastes energy used to run air conditioners and costs money. It also means the commissioning of new power plants.

The mandatory energy audits are raising awareness of the leakyness of our older homes, but are people addressing the leaks?

Read the rest of the article to find out how the Energy Audit Ordinance may help to sell your home faster here.

Garreth Wilcock is an Austin Realtor® and EcoBroker® who helps buyers find homes in Austin, and helps sellers get top dollar for their homes.

Resale Homes in Mueller Austin - Number Two!

Garreth Wilcock Central East Austin Real Estate (Keller Williams) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:33:10 -0500

How do you sell your home at Mueller? The second attempt is under way right now. The first resale ended up leasing their home recently, after 37 days on the market. And now the second resale home is available.

I’m a little surprised by the listing for a number of reasons - there are no photos of it, and no sign is on the street.

Given the challenges of competing with the builders when selling a home in a development under construction, pricing and marketing are critical. Right now there are no photos of the home in the Austin Multiple Listing System. The one below I snapped while walking this morning.

... Read the rest of the article about the resale market in Mueller here.

Garreth Wilcock is a Realtor living and working in Mueller Austin, TX, and represents buyers and sellers there. Read more about selling your home at Mueller in this 3 part series. Call or email to set up a viewing of the home above, or any other home at Mueller.

Mueller Affordable Homes - Get Notified When They’re Available

Garreth Wilcock Central East Austin Real Estate (Keller Williams) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:24:56 -0500

The Affordable Program at the old airport development in Austin provides a shared equity program to qualifying home buyers.

There are no affordable homes available right now, so you can’t take advantage of the $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit in conjunction with the affordable program?

... Read more about who qualifies for the Mueller Affordable Homes program and tax credit here.

Garreth Wilcock is a Mueller Resident and Realtor® and represents buyers of any homes at Mueller, and helps buyers with the City’s downpayment assistance program.

How to Buy a Home in Austin, TX With No Down Payment

Garreth Wilcock Central East Austin Real Estate (Keller Williams) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:15:37 -0500

The Stimulus Package gave us the $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers in February. It looks like now that buyers in Austin can use this tax credit for their downpayment. Is this the return of the zero-down home purchase in Austin?

Since February, home buyers have been able to claim a true tax credit of up to $8,000 when they purchase their first home (over $80,000 with income qualifications on the buyer). This credit could be applied for at the next tax filing.

...Read the rest of the article about buying a home with no down payment in Austin.

Garreth Wilcock is a real estate agent in Austin, Tx. You can search Austin homes for sale at his website. Call or email for more information about buying a home with no downpayment and no closing costs.

Mueller Austin Homes: Where Did They All Go?

Garreth Wilcock Central East Austin Real Estate (Keller Williams) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:09:14 -0500

The residential development at the old Mueller Airport in Austin, TX is in its second phase as we move through Spring of 2009. Are we going to run out of homes here soon?

To say that home sales have been brisk here would be an understatement. Here are a few statistics that might shed some light on the interest in Mueller:

David Weekley hit 114% of there sales targets in April (according to their project board which I noticed when I visited their project office last week). More on this later.
Meritage have just nine homes in inventory and four homes that can be built in this phase.
Standard Pacific had four inventory Andrews / Duren plan homes three weeks ago - now they are wrapping up contracts for all of those.
Streetman sold four of their flex homes in eight days about two weeks ago.
Muskin have sold out in the second garden court, and Saldana homes have two garden court homes left that are currently under construction.

...Read the rest of the article on Mueller Austin Homes here.

Garreth Wilcock is a Realtor living and working in Mueller. He helps sell homes at Mueller and buyers find homes at Mueller.

How To Sell Your Austin Home Faster

Garreth Wilcock Central East Austin Real Estate (Keller Williams) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:02:47 -0500

Austin home selling: staging your home is a key part of the home selling process regardless of whether your part of the Austin real estate market is faring well or poorly. A February 2009 study from the Real Estate Staging Association claimed that vacant homes sold in 85% less time when staged.

This number seems quite alarming, and I don’t have insight into their methodology or how they chose homes to base their statistics on. Suffice it to say that I’m a firm believer in staging.

There’s more to staging than decluttering and moving furniture around. It takes a keen sense of design to adapt a room to a target buyer. It can involve removing furniture, renting furniture and changing key elements of decor. A good staging will result in much better photos, and hence more buyer interest.

I performed a brief interview with Knisely Gee - the interior designers I use for home staging to get their take:

...Read the rest of the article for Knisely's tips about staging your home to sell your Austin home faster here.

Garreth Wilcock is an Austin EcoBroker®, and provides a free third party staging consultation to qualifying sellers. Get in touch for a FREE consultation on the value of your Austin home.