Summer’s here, and its time to fire up the old barbeque grill to celebrate our American past times. Many people will stray away from the barbeque to prevent unnecessary environmental waste and pollution. Before you throw tour barbeque out, try some of these quick tips to safely barbeque. You can celebrate America safely and waste-free!

• Green grilling cannot be done with a charcoal grill. The green plan is to definitely purchase an electric or propane grill. If you are forced to utilize a charcoal grill, make sure to purchase natural charcoals, many of which can be found in your local grocery stores. If the flavor gotten from wood grill is what you long for, be sure to purchase the environmentally friendly choice of the Wood Flame grill.
• On top of the risk of heart disease and cholesterol overdose, meat is also unfriendly to environment. Try replacing the meat you planned to cook with pork, beans, or chicken.
  
  
• Go green even more by barbequing some all natural organic vegetables. Just about everything tastes better when it’s kabobed. Roll out the skewers and turn on the grill. Its time for the veggie grilling.

• Try to green out your beer selection too. The locally and organic brews are much better for the environment, and also quite eco- friendly. Also try organic fruit juices and sodas such as blue sky or unpopular energy drinks.

• Instead of buying the Styrofoam disposables, use the china and dishwasher ware. You can also try the recyclable, reusable leaf plates – green and green!

• Though your probably most comfortable in your backyard, sometimes you should try contacting your public park for utilization. They are often less prone to waste and easier to clean up.

Get outside and get ready for your summer fun. You can barbeque while keeping the planet beautifully green. Enjoy your outdoor food extravaganza while supporting the environment. What could be better to top off your day?

Joe

Bellview Signature Homes | Round Rock Texas Parks and Recreation

In response to a litigation originally filed in September 2005, the United States Department of Justice (USDoJ) and the National Association of Realtors (NAR) have recently come to terms on an overwhelming agreement, to the approval of RE/MAX International.

Even though this agreement is a step in the right direction, the results of this settlement will not likely be seen as a lucrative impact on the real estate market. The National Association of Realtor’s IDX  guidelines have never been confronted with defiance. The newly rewritten Virtual Office Website documents will seemingly be placed into effect, as a renewed permanent policy. The opposing Multiple Listing Services shall continue to remain closely associated with the works of professional real estate brokerages, especially those who pay to subscribe. 

“Opt-out”, a brokerage policy, has been directly impacted by the evolution of the market place. The formerly instated policy allowed traditional brokerages to “opt-out” from their professional responsibilities, withholding their information from their competitors.

Years in the past, RE/MAX decided to provide potential customers with sought after home listings, right along side that of their competitors. Recently as technology has been used to track consumer site clicks/visits, Remax.com has proven to be the most visited site amongst the national real estate corporations. This adds to the proven success of RE/Max.

Joe

ReMax Austin

Joe Cline works in Austin Texas Real Estate. If you are looking to buy, sell, or lease Austin Real Estate, it would be my pleasure to help. I also work selling Lakeway Real Estate.

Fannie Mae, the largest home loan funding source, has announced that they are changing their down payment requirements for all homes in the US market, even those where home values have steadily declined in recent months. This comes after the December 07 announcement that a tighter restriction was to be placed on down payments following the home sales decline through the past year.  

Fannie Mae has pledged to stimulate the US housing market with more than $10 billion in changes to their down payment practices. At this time they are offering down payments as low as 3% of the homes value on single family dwellings. That is allowing mortgage originators more options when seeking funding for their clients. Fannie Mae hopes that this will stimulate the lagging market enough to increase consumer confidence across the board.

A 97% loan to value ratio is set by Fannie Mae at this time and Freddie Mac has landed with the 95% loan to value ratio. Both of these companies have stated that they will continue with normal operations. They have several programs in place, such as the second lien system, which allows a consumer to have a second lien to help pay for down payment and closing costs. The new down payment requirements come into play with the idea of the standard mortgages that Fannie Mae will purchase from lenders allowing the companies to lend more over time. 

This stimulation package by the two big names in mortgage funding is set to slowly boost the national average and pull the US out of the housing slump.

Source: http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=OBR&date=20080516&id=8655869

Hope you enjoyed this post!

Joe

Westfield Texas Listings | Commanders Point Real Estate

You aren’t trying to buy a house or a condo or a luxury apartment. In fact, you couldn’t care less about houses and condos and luxury apartments. What you are trying to do is lease office space where you can set up your business and toil away forty hours a week. Compared to purchasing a 4-acre property, this sounds like a simple task, but it’s not. There is some work required to leasing, or at least to leasing intelligently. 

It all starts with hiring the proper representatives. You need a real estate broker and a lawyer. The real estate broker will deal with the landlord’s representative and handle all of the commercial aspects, which while an important part of the deal aren’t the only aspects you should concern yourself with. There are legal matters, as well. And that is why you need a lawyer. He will cover the bases your broker does not. 

Once you and the landlord have the proper representatives, you need to determine the terms of your lease.  You must consider the rent, the length of the lease, personal guarantee, renewal options and much, much more. You should know how much the security deposit will be, whether you’ll be forced to relocate in the future, and if you’ll be able to add more space. Essentially, you need to make sure every detail of the agreement works for you and the landlord.  If any don’t, you should negotiate (this is where the broker and attorney come in handy), but don’t nitpick over everything. Choose your battles, determining what will benefit you most in the long run and what is just a waste of argument.

Finally, cover the little details you wouldn’t think of until the heat broke in the dead of winter. Know what will happen if repairs are needed or damage occurs. Know who is responsible for paying utilities and property taxes. Can you sublet? If there is an irresolvable dispute between you and the landlord, will you be able to back out of the deal without losing an inordinate amount of money? Discuss everything. Be intelligent and informed. If you walk into this with your head on straight, you can get a deal that will serve as an amazing start to your business. Do it, and then get down to work.

I know you don't really absolutely need a lawyer, but when buying business assets as large as property, I always like to be over covered. :)

Joe

Austin Production Builder | Flintrock at Hurst Creek Lakeway Real Estate

It’s not the largest city in the country. It’s not even the largest city in Texas, but that doesn’t mean Austin is lacking . . . in anything. As the third fastest growing large city in the United States, Austin is thriving with history, industry and, most importantly, realty.

History

What today is Austin was at first named Waterloo and was originally home to a number of Native American tribes, such as the Tonkawa, a nomadic group who used the area as one of their many stops throughout the year. Plans to turn Austin into a city more European than Native American did not develop until the 1830s. And even then, it was not until 1839 that Austin was truly established and became Texas’ capital.

The city began with a promising start, but a severe population drop in the 1840s offset the region’s initial growth spurt. Months into 1841, the city was home to only 200 people. In 1842, the title of capital was taken from the dwindling city and given to Houston. But three years later, when Texas was annexed into the United States, that wrong was righted, albeit on a temporary basis. And in 1872, Austin was permanently selected as the Lone Star’s capital.  

From there, Austin had nowhere to go but up. And up it went. Austin quickly established itself as a legitimate metropolitan, building the Texas State Capitol, creating a reputable public school system, and bringing higher education and booming industry into the region. Today, it houses politicians, businessmen, students, musicians and scientists. It is safe to say that Austin is a far cry from the barely populated town it began as.

Economy/Jobs

Much of the industry in Austin is technology based.  The steady flow of graduates from the University of Texas at Austin feed the growing need for employees as technology and science continue to develop, branching out into new, untapped territories. Dell, IBM, Motorola, the University of Texas and the state itself employ most of Austin’s citizens. However, there is no lack of other corporations. Everything from Google to Whole Foods has a base in Austin.

This trend of budding corporations finding a home in Austin does not look to end soon. Commercial, pharmaceutical, and state and local possibilities arise every day. Even as the nation’s economy teeters, Austin’s remains strong, allowing for more jobs, more work and more people.

Real Estate

Just as the economy is strong, real estate is strong. While sales have slowed recently, they have not stopped. The price of living compared to the price of houses is more than appealing, particularly when compared to surrounding areas and metropolitans. New buildings and developments are plotted, begun or finished nearly every day. People are rushing into Austin for homes and offices at startling rates.

To make matters even better, Austin has established itself as one of the greenest cities in the country, mapping the course for green construction, alternative means of energy and environmental friendliness. It is working on becoming an urban area that both respects and takes part in saving the ecosystem. 

It is a city that may have begun as a temporary dwelling for nomadic tribes but is now one of the best places to live in the United States, let alone Texas.

Hope you like Austin TX as much as I do now that you know some more about it.

Joe

Austin Real Estate Blog | Austin Real Estate Blog

The city of Austin has come a long way since its days as a buffalo-hunting ground for the Tonkawa and other Indian tribes. The 4,224 square miles now hold more than 1.5 million people. The city has one of the fastest growing populations in the country and the fastest growing income in the state. Neither shows signs of slowing, as more than 8,000 new inhabitants are anticipated every year with 2,000 fewer leaving. But with all these people, where are they living? 

Many are in apartments, but more still are in houses, the average price of which are 184,200 dollars - slightly higher than in Texas as a whole but lower than throughout the United States. Most families easily afford the cost, as they are making at least $45,314 and on average $69,300. Incomes for first-time homebuyers are naturally a little less.

While the value of homes are not as high as they were in 2001, when real estate peaked, they are much better than they used to be. Compared to 2003, 2007 prices were extraordinary. Declines are slight, and it’s likely Austin could soon come full circle, back to the booming value of the early boom. If value rises, so does sale pricing; therefore, expect a continuing increase throughout the area.

If you’re concerned not about how much you will get for your home, but how much you will have to pay and if you can, don’t be. Employment is on the rise as well. The University of Texas - Austin is one of the fastest growing schools in the country. With companies such as Dell, Seton Health Care, IBM and AT&T offering jobs, you know that with the right skills, you can get the right position. There is no shortage of employment opportunities. 

Austin is a city of possibility. The statistics show it - now all you have to do is prove it.

Just a little post about Austin as I find that overviews are often helpful.

Joe

Pflugerville Texas MLS Listings | Austin City Lofts

The real estate world is full of mysterious jargon that only select few understand. Realtors often seem like they are speaking a language all their own, a fact that can make dealing with them and their clients intimidating, overwhelming and seemingly not worth a fight. But that kind of attitude can hurt you, especially if you get talked into something as risky as a Quitclaim. 

A Quitclaim Deed, often mistakenly called a Quick Claim Deed, is a deed in which the landowner does not promise he has no interest in the land but says he will surrender any that may exist. It is a vague statement that doesn’t specifically give the buyer full hold over the property, and thus is something that can easily backfire on you. Moreover, it is essentially useless in Texas. Therefore, what you want instead is a Warranty Deed, or at the very least, a Quitclaim Deed that has been painstakingly examined by your representative, because that is the key to breaking through the real estate jargon - a realtor on your side.

Hiring a real estate agent who already knows the language, the tricks and the loopholes that could both benefit and hurt you will ensure you get a deal that is truly a deal. It will lead to a sale that benefits more than one party, and it will prevent much of the frustration and headaches in your future. So before you sign anything, before you even look at anything, consult a real estate agent. Do the research, and end up on top.

Joe Cline, REALTOR, Broker, CRS, ABR

Austin Real Estate Blog | Avery Ranch Texas Listings

In 2007, everyone stopped building homes. For that matter, they stopped buying and selling homes, too. They weren't wanted; they weren't needed; and they certainly weren't in the budget. That wasn't the case, however, for commercial structures. Offices, malls, hotels and public institutions continued to be built throughout the year. These buildings seemed to feel very little of the economy's tightening, remaining strong and newly erected while everything else weakened.
   
Unfortunately, that's no longer true.

Current trends show that nonresidential construction is about to hit a standstill. Projects already in the works are tentatively continuing, unsure if they'll have enough funds for completion. And projects only in the planning stages seem to be ultimately doomed. In March, the number of nonresidential starts dropped by 23 percent; hotels dipped 67 percent, offices 28 and stores 18. Since the dip is relatively recent, it could be hoped that this is only temporary, but with the increased difficulty of obtaining a loan, the weak dollar and the high price of building materials, it's doubtful that's true. This won't be turning around any time soon.

That means the economy is only going to get worse. An estimated $250 billion is put into the economy annually by commercial buildings. Without them, there will only be a tighter squeeze - more strain on your wallet. Construction jobs will dwindle even more than they already have, and the real estate market will take yet another hit, making it doubly difficult to stay afloat, whether you are commercial or residential, buyer, seller or builder.

Hopefully, we'll all weather this storm adn come out stronger than we were before the tough times hit.

Joe

Selling a Home in Austin Texas | New Year 2008 Texas Economy Forecast

I CAN'T BELEIVE IT. I just got this in my email. I thought the forced green upgrades was out of characted for Austin, but I must be losing it. Now the city wants to force builders to build with certain specifications. Forget custom homes. Now the city is working on making all homes follow these guidelines.

MANDATORY VISITABILITY IN CAPITAL CITY?

AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) – A proposed city ordinance could require local home builders to equip all new single-family homes with features designed especially for disabled individuals and the elderly.

The city council this month passed a resolution to initiate code amendments requiring new homes to comply with the city's “visitability standards,” which currently apply only to homes built using public funds.

Among the proposed requirements are:

•  
  • at least one building entrance on the first floor served by a ramp or no-step entrance,
  • doors that are at least 32 inches wide,
  • hallways that are at least 36 inches across and level with door thresholds, and
  • first-floor bathrooms with reinforced walls capable of supporting grab bars.

The city's law department is currently drafting an ordinance for public hearings and a city council vote next month.

What gives? Isn't anyone else as disturbed by this as me? I'm all for making public buildings accessible, but forcing the requirement on homes?

Joe

Buyer Closing Costs | New Home Austin Texas