austin homes: Recipe for a Successful Real Estate Investment - 07/06/10 01:53 AM
There are a few wants that home buyers perceive as needs when shopping around for a home. As you're shopping for your next home, you may not have any idea how long you will live there as you may need to sell at some point. With that in mind, consider some practical features potential home buyers look for when buying their next home. That way yours will be positioned for quick sale if or when you decide to put it on the market in the future.
Basic Functions
When you bought your first home, things like central air, a … (1 comments)
|
austin homes: Bargain Markets for Homebuyers and Investors - 06/06/10 04:58 AM
Since 2007, foreclosures and short sales have littered the real estate market and drove down the price of property and home values. The upside to the down housing market is that homebuyers and investors can find sweet deals in some of the nation's most sought after cities.
If cities like Milwaukee, Memphis, Baltimore and the Big D interest you, then you'll find a honey of a home in any of these metro areas. Though the initial listing price may begin at what properties are currently valued, they are often reduced from 26 to 33 percent. The top ten U.S. … (1 comments)
|
austin homes: Is Now A Good Time to Buy? - 05/16/10 03:22 AM
Have home prices hit rock bottom? Probably not in some areas and maybe not as a whole. Nonetheless, now could be the best time to buy a house. Even with the homebuyer's tax credit due to expire at the end of the month, there are compelling reasons to buy a house in the current economy.
This recession made a good case for the renting over buying argument. But as the country tentatively enters the recovery phase, buying a house makes sense in many circumstances. The rent versus buy analysis has many considerations, including home prices, how long you planning on … (6 comments)
|
austin homes: Mortgage Rates Jump - 04/12/10 01:39 AM
Mortgage rates rose substantially this week. Ever since the government stopped buying mortgage backed securities the writing had been on the wall that mortgage rates were going to increase. And the general expectation is that over the next month rates are going to continue to rise. The 30 year rate rose from 5.08 to 5.21 this week. This is the 5th week in a row where rates have risen. Although rates have been rising this week those rose as much as the last 4 weeks combined.
Looking at the other major mortgage products the 15 year rose from 4.39 to … (0 comments)
|
austin homes: How to Become a Successful Real Estate Agent - 02/24/10 01:33 AM
What does it take to become a successful real estate agent and maintain that status?
With all the real estate agents in the troubled market right now, it's not surprising that new agents often don't last and brokers are finding it difficult to keep them. Although brokerages can assist new and existing agents in developing and honing their selling skills, there is one common trait to which all successful real estate agents attribute their success - the need to close the sale, and in record time.
It's amazing how many people think that being a real estate agent … (5 comments)
|
austin homes: How Mortgage Loan Rates Are Determined - 02/01/10 02:06 AM
It is a common misperception by the general public that fixed rate mortgage interest is tied directly to Federal Reserve interest rate movement. On the contrary, the determinant is the performance of mortgage backed securities (MBS), most of which are issued by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What does that mean in layman's terms? MBS are securities traded on the open stock market and are backed by assets, like real estate. When you obtain a home loan, it is typically sold, pooled into a group of home loans as a securities package called MBS to be sold as … (2 comments)
|
austin homes: Rural Housing Repair Homes and Grants -- Do You Qualify? - 01/16/10 06:47 PM
Three programs are available to assist homebuyers to purchase a home that the federal government considers rural property. Rural Housing Loans, Rural Housing: Farm Labor Housing Loans and Grants and Rural Housing: Housing Repair Loans and Grants all enable eligible loan applicants to purchase or repair rural housing. All three loans fall under the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) umbrella and are administered by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development field offices.
The Rural Housing Loans (RHL) program is for eligible applicants to build, buy or improve their permanent residences. If on a permanent site and bought from … (0 comments)
|
austin homes: Federal Mortgage Home Loan Programs - 10/07/09 02:32 AM
In need of a loan to buy a house, make repairs on your home or buy a house and make repairs on a home? Are you thinking you might not qualify, though, so you've not started the process? You just might be surprised. The federal government currently has a variety of 18 federal mortgage assistance programs available to eligible homebuyers. Keep in mind, however, that most are for those who have very low- to middle-income and the home mortgaged must be your primary residence.
All available federal mortgage programs and are provided below. Detail for all programs may be accessed … (0 comments)
|
austin homes: Investing in Rental Property - 09/30/09 01:04 AM
Foreclosure City has created the perfect storm in many major cities in the U.S. - the perfect storm for investors to find great real estate deals, that is.
Large inventories, low interest rates and homeowners hungry to sell all make certain cities ideal for picking an affordable home or two. Before you break a leg rushing out to buy that bargain real estate, however, you'll want to keep in mind the most important factors in a successful real estate deal.
Location, condition, price and financing are all consideration you'll want to keep in mind in order to successfully find … (1 comments)
|
austin homes: The Retirement Community of Sun City Texas - 05/27/09 10:40 PM
Sun City is a retirement community located in Georgetown. It is not the normal retirement home or community. This community offers its residents small town charm, but just minutes from Austin. Sun City was also recently named one of the nations top retirement communities by Retirement Places Rated, a guidebook for seniors wanting to relocate upon retirement.
Its location is excellent, and has extremely affordable cost of living and tax advantages. Currently Sun City has about 5,500 homes and plans to expand to 7,500 homes by 2012-2013.
Most of the homes in Sun City range in price beginning … (3 comments)
|
austin homes: Will the Last Ones to the Recession Be the Last to Leave? - 03/24/09 12:19 AM
It seems Texas has arrived to the recession fashionably late, the question now is how long will we stay? The current economic woes began to be felt in some parts of the nation at the end of 2007, the official beginning of this recession. Texas began to feel the squeeze at the end of 2008, a full year later.
Austin in particular has only recently started to feel the economic pain that the rest of the country has been experiencing for the last year. According to a recent Austin-American Statesman article, Texas could cut as much as 296,000 jobs in … (0 comments)
|
austin homes: Secure Your Home Without Breaking The Bank - 02/16/09 08:47 PM
According to burglary experts Matt Johnston and Jon Douglas Rainey, hosts of It Takes a Thief, most homes are cased from the outside. Seasoned thieves know what to look for and focus on being able to get in and out of a home quickly, quietly and without being seen. There are a variety of affordable options, all of which help deter thieves and add security and safety to your home.
According to Johnston and Rainey, the most common way for a burglar to enter a home is through an unlocked or unsecured door. Because of this, always lock all doors … (3 comments)
|
austin homes: Profiles in Urban Redevelopment : Mueller Austin - 12/27/08 04:07 AM
What once was an airport is now an inner city place to live and work. The Robert Mueller airport opened for business in 1936. It served Austin and surrounding cities for 63 years before being closed down.
With Austin continuously growing, it was only logical to develop Mueller into something the community could use to its advantage. In 2002, the city began its Mueller Master Development Agreement, turning this open land into a retail and residential masterpiece.
The city has developed this land into a affordable place to live and work. The Mueller community was inspired by … (3 comments)
|
austin homes: Five Charities to give to this Christmas - 12/21/08 02:57 AM
In our economy it is a fact that many children and families will do without this year. It is a sad fact, but there is something that can be done. Donating to a local charity is a way to help a family in need this Christmas season.
Goodwill
You are helping many families when you donate items to Goodwill. There are so many unfortunate families that benefit from Goodwill and the great thing is you can clean out your closet and any clothes or items you no longer need can be used by someone else. You can make … (0 comments)
|
austin homes: How to Prepare a Holiday Feast on a Budget - 12/04/08 05:25 AM
The holidays are a time of togetherness, a time for friends and family to catch up and enjoy each others' company. It's no wonder meals are a central focus of the holiday schedule what better way to get people together than over a delicious meal? But preparing the perfect holiday feast doesn't require a major investment. Careful planning and smart shopping can help you put together a memorable family meal without breaking your holiday budget. Here are a few simple tips to get you started.
1. Simplify
There's no need to go over the top when it comes to planning … (4 comments)
|
austin homes: The Perfect Place to Find a Chistmas Tree around Austin - 11/30/08 04:17 AM
It's that time of year again, time for family, fun and celebration. Many families kick of the season by picking out and cutting down their own Christmas tree. It's a tradition that began long ago.
For many, finding that perfect Christmas tree is almost as important as the holiday itself. There are so many different trees to choose from. Luckily these days it's much easier choosing the perfect tree without hiking up a mountain or walking through a field of snow or in our case in Texas, heat and fire ants! Christmas tree farms are popping up in almost every … (0 comments)
|
austin homes: Johnson City, Texas - 11/10/08 02:52 AM
Johnson City is a Texas Hill Country town 48 miles west of Austin and 60 miles north of San Antonio. Johnson City is 25 miles south of the Highland Lakes community of Marble Falls and 30 miles east of Fredericksburg, so Johnson City is very centrally located and easily accessible from two large metropolitan areas, as well as numerous Hill Country resort destinations.
Johnson City was established on the site of the Johnson Ranch on Town Creek, and in 1879, three sites were considered for settling a community on the shores of the Pedernales River, one being the site of … (0 comments)
|
austin homes: Swimming Holes Around Austin - 10/29/08 04:48 AM
Trying to come up with things to do with out of town visitors in the height of summer? The Austin area offers a wide variety of activities to entertain even the most difficult audience. During the summer months, your primary goal will be trying to stay cool, and Austin and the surrounding area offers swimming holes a-plenty.
The iconic Barton Springs near the Barton Hills neighborhood is open from early spring to late autumn. Sometimes called the soul of Austin, this spring fed pool maintains a steady 68 degrees in all seasons. And don't forget to impress your visitors with … (0 comments)
|
austin homes: The Historic Moonlight Towers in Austin - 10/18/08 02:21 AM
Most visitors to Austin notice the unusual streetlights strategically located throughout the city known as the moonlight towers, but most are not aware of the history of the towers. Probably the most well known of the moonlight towers is the one in Zilker Park which is used every year to represent a huge Christmas tree, when it is encircled with multi-colored lights and can be seen from miles away.
There are actually 17 moonlight towers in and around Austin, including the Zilker tower, and these lights have been in use since the late 1800s, when Austin purchased the lights from … (0 comments)
|
austin homes: The Bryker Woods Neighborhood - 09/12/08 04:22 AM
The Bryker Woods neighborhood in Austin is actually a collection of small housing developments and subdivisions, and the earliest known residents settled in the area around 1886, thus it is a very historic neighborhood, located in west central Austin. The neighborhood is roughly bordered by 35th Street, the MoPac Expressway, Westover, and Lamar, and this neighborhood is adjacent to some of the most historic neighborhoods in Austin, including Pemberton Heights and the Old Enfield neighborhoods. The neighborhood was founded when the fourteen-lot William Thiele subdivision was platted in 1886, near Kerbey Lane and Jefferson, and the neighborhood is also very close … (0 comments)
|
;)
;)
;)
