austin mls: Dove Springs-A Quaint, Family-Oriented Community - 08/18/10 11:59 PM
A quaint, tree-lined rural community exists in Southeast Austin called Dove Springs, and it has a unique charm and many opportunities for recreation, housing, entertainment and access to the central city area. Dove Springs can be found by exiting I.H. 35 and traveling east on Stassney, among other routes, and the neighborhood's proximity to the freeway is another advantage to residents.
Most of the street names include the word Dove, such as Dove Meadow, Dove Hill, Dove Wood and others. These streets are tree-lined, quiet, meandering, residential streets, with inexpensive to moderately priced homes and duplexes, as well as numerous … (0 comments)
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austin mls: The Jolly Area of Jollyville Road - 08/07/10 12:04 AM
Jollyville Road has recently become a mecca for shoppers, business people, and residents, due to its varied character, which is a combination of high tech businesses, shopping venues, and nice but fairly reasonably priced homes with big, shady yards.
The relatively recent addition of the Arboretum and the nearby Domain make the area a shopper's paradise, and there are numerous strip centers, restaurants, fast food establishments, and grocery stores, among other businesses. In addition, Great Hills Baptist Church is in the center of the neighborhood, and it is one of the largest and most active churches in Austin with numerous … (0 comments)
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austin mls: Can You Influence What Airs On TV? - 08/06/10 11:45 PM
It never fails. You're flipping through the channels looking for a good program to watch and you bump into one that is not the type of programming you'd expect to see on a particular station. Television has gotten racier and racier over the years. It used to be that stations couldn't use certain language, and they were very restricted as to how much flesh they could show. The FCC has become lax in what they allow to be aired, however, and programming directors are taking full advantage of it.
Many say, "If you don't want to watch it, just change … (2 comments)
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austin mls: The Town of Georgetown in Texas - 08/06/10 11:35 PM
If there is one Central Texas town that has grown significantly in the last 10 years, it would be Georgetown. The Williamson County seat is a picture-perfect small town, with its town square surrounding the historic courthouse. The town was founded in 1848, the same year Williamson County was established. The charming Victorian style limestone buildings surrounding the domed courthouse reflect Georgetown's early prosperity as a commerce center.
Built near the banks of the San Gabriel River, with fertile farmlands to the east and wide-ranging ranch lands to the west, Georgetown had no problem attracting settlers. The addition of a … (1 comments)
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austin mls: How to Become a Famous Real Estate Agent - 07/18/10 01:48 AM
So, you have taken the classes and you have now become a real estate agent. Or, you already are a real estate agent. Now that you are, or already are, a real estate agent, how do you become a famous real estate agent?
Before getting into the specifics of becoming famous, you need to sit back, kick up your feet and decide on your niche. Your niche will be the springboard from which you launch your campaign to become famous. Is the luxury market your thing, or maybe being a buyer's agent is more your cup-of-tea. You need to decide … (6 comments)
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austin mls: Interested in a Condominium? Get a FHA-Insured Loan - 07/18/10 01:44 AM
Mortgage Insurance for Condominium Units (Section 234(c)) program assists potential homeowners in purchasing a home in a condominium development. The prospective condominium must be the potential homeowner's primary residence.
The intent of this federal program managed under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is to insure the loan of a borrower who buys a unit in a condominium property. HUD does not directly provide loans to borrowers. Instead, HUD insures loans through FHA-approved lenders. Some of those who take advantage of the program are low- to moderate-income renters who want to buy their unit in order to … (1 comments)
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austin mls: Advantages and Disadvantages of Reverse Mortgages - 07/06/10 01:58 AM
Reverse mortgages are a relatively recent product on the lending scene. The approval process is somewhat abbreviated compared to a traditional home loan, but there are some conditions and requirements that make a reverse mortgage unique to other home loans.
What Is a Reverse Mortgage?
It is a home loan that enables the homeowner access to the equity built up in the home. Some borrowers prefer a lump sum when taking out a reverse mortgage. Others choose to receive monthly payments. No payment is required on the reverse mortgage until the homeowner dies, sells the home or vacates the … (3 comments)
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austin mls: The Perks of a Yard Sale - 06/27/10 03:39 AM
There is something about the change of seasons that makes people want to get organized. With the holidays in the not so distant future, it may be time to get rid of all the junk that has been accumulating in the guest room or make space in the garage. A yard sale can be a good way to get unwanted stuff out of the house and make a little money.
A yard sale or garage sale does require some work before, during and after, but having more space and some spending money makes it worth it. Several websites giving yard … (7 comments)
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austin mls: Community Reinvestment Act - Impact to Housing Loans - 06/06/10 05:04 AM
Many of those in the media feel that the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) is the culprit for the recent real estate market bust. Politicians have even echoed this sentiment from the Congressional podium. What is the Community Reinvestment Act, though, and did it actually contribute to or cause the U.S. housing market demise?
First, it is good to understand the origination of the Act, the planned purpose of the Act and its intended benefits. The CRA followed three other enacted laws that addressed housing discrimination and equal opportunities for housing for all peoples; however, the CRA took it a step … (2 comments)
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austin mls: A Day at the Ballpark - 06/06/10 04:44 AM
For some reason a beer and a hot dog just taste better at the ballpark. Arlington has the Texas Rangers and Houston has the Astros, but Austin has its own baseball team just up the road in Round Rock. The Round Rock Express may be a minor league team, but they've got big league appeal. To begin with, the team is owned by Major League Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan.
Ryan and Houston businessman Don Sanders bought the Double AA team in 2000 and made the Dell Diamond the new team's ballpark. With Ryan's son as president of the team, … (3 comments)
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austin mls: Lessons from Greece - 05/27/10 02:28 AM
Greece, one of the oldest countries on the planet, suffers from one of the oldest problems on the planet: debt. The Greek debt debacle is playing significant havoc on the world's financial markets. As Carmen M. Reinhart, author of a book on 800 years of world debt crises said on The New York Times Economix blog recently, "Greece casts a long shadow on the European continent because 15 other countries share a common currency with it, the euro."
What does the euro and Greece's debt problems have to with the American economy? Far more than we would like, as was … (3 comments)
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austin mls: Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Crackdown - 05/27/10 02:03 AM
Every aspect of the real estate industry has experienced fraud at one time or another. From homeowners, homebuyers and real estate professionals to lenders, appraisers and title companies, every step of the home buying process has been tainted by fraudulent activity. A greater abundance of it came to light more recently due to the housing market bust. Most once booming markets either diminished significantly or came to a screeching halt as foreclosures began to overshadow the home sales scene.
Subsequently, the flowing streams of wealth enjoyed by many during the housing bubble slowed to a trickle or dried up … (2 comments)
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austin mls: The Subprime Story - 05/16/10 03:26 AM
As past and present bankers from Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Bears Sterns and Washington Mutual sit on the hot seat in front of Congress, Americans have to be collectively scratching their heads. What exactly are these guys guilty of? And, why won't any of them own up to any wrong doing?
As the Congressional Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission continues to grill bank executives about the role each institution played in the recent economic crisis, a theme seems to be emerging: The banks did nothing illegal. Moral obligations aside, the path to the financial meltdown was paved in greed, but probably … (2 comments)
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austin mls: Which Home Loan Is Right for You? - 04/22/10 12:51 AM
Depending upon several factors, some of which include geographic location, credit scores, current interest rates and current income, different loans work best for different home buyers. A good example of this is West Coast borrowers who opted for different versions of an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) for their home buying needs in recent years. At the time of many of these ARMs, the initial interest rate was significantly lower than those for traditional fixed-rate mortgages, so their payments were quite affordable at the onset of the loan.
One common theory for using an ARM is to buy a home … (0 comments)
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austin mls: The Current State of the Texas Economy - 04/22/10 12:38 AM
A recent Associated Press survey on the economy by economists didn't paint a pretty picture. Home values are stagnant, consumers are still cutting back and not enough jobs are being created. While all of this is true in Texas, too, the Lone Star state still seems to be weathering the economic "recovery" better than other states.
In fact, Austin was the featured city in a recent Time magazine cover story on jobs. At a time when other cities are still shedding jobs, Austin is actually creating new jobs. The article featured tech, construction and energy companies that are hiring in … (1 comments)
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austin mls: 10 Things to Know Before Enlisting the Help of a Real Estate Agent - 04/12/10 01:53 AM
Real estate agents are great sources of information and assistance in the housing industry. Their purpose is to serve the real estate market with integrity. Under contract they have fiduciary responsibilities to their clients. Before enlisting the assistance of a real estate agent, there are 10 things to keep in mind.
1. Before a real estate agent can successfully sell your home, you need to have it in tip top shape. All colors inside and outside of the home should be in neutral colors, including wallpaper, painted walls, and the exterior. If you are a smoker or own a pet, … (4 comments)
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austin mls: A Guide to Making A Will - 04/12/10 01:44 AM
No one enjoys considering end-of-life situations like how long to stay on life support, but drafting a living will stating your wishes in this situation is a very good idea. A living will is also known as an advanced healthcare directive, and should not be confused with a last will and testament. A living will has nothing to do with how you want to allocate your assets after your death, and everything to do with your end-of-life wishes.
As many health care providers can confirm, all too often a family grapples with end-of-life decisions in the hospital. The reality of … (1 comments)
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austin mls: Hope for Homeowners - 03/29/10 03:42 AM
Hope for Homeowners program was enacted to assist homeowners either in default or at risk of foreclosure. It began in October of 2008 and will end on September 30, 2011. Those eligible for the program will be provided a new 30-year, fixed-rate FHA-insured mortgage. For homeowners finding it hard to pay their existing mortgages, this may provide an avenue to refinance their current mortgage into one that they can afford.
Both lender and homeowner must formally agree to participate before a new mortgage can be approved.
Some of the program requirements are as follows:
* Your home … (1 comments)
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austin mls: The Ins and Outs of Making a Will - 03/29/10 03:30 AM
Writing a will is one of those things, like flossing every day, that people mean to do but tends to stay on the to-do list for a long time. Maybe it's planning for death that causes people to put off drafting this important document. However, if you own anything, from a computer to a house, you need a will.
Drafting a last will and testament will ensure that your wishes in regard to your property and assets will be carried out after your death. A will can designate everything from the essential, like who will care for your children, to … (0 comments)
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austin mls: Austin Museums - 03/17/10 02:12 AM
Austin is known for its live music, but the city also has a rich culture of museums and art galleries. The Austin Museum Partnership is a good place to find information and resources about Austin's diverse museum offerings. The following is a mere glimpse of the Austin museum scene.
Only in Texas
The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin gives visitors a larger than life Texas experience. From the Imax theater to the special effects in the Texas Spirit Theater, this museum educates visitors with three floors-worth of fun, interactive exhibits.
Before becoming part of the United … (0 comments)
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