Congratulations to Christina, a first-time homebuyer! Christina travels so much for her job that she wanted to live close to the airport and also wanted an acre lot. I found the perfect match with this 4 bedroom home on an acre in a Bastrop neighborhood - The Colony.
A special thanks to Leslie Alsup for the referral.
If you know anyone who would like to buy a or sell a home, please call me. I offer a high level of service and would like to demonstrate that to you. But don't take my word for it; email me for references. I have very satisfied clients and would like to add you to that list. 512.589.7988 or robin@robinscottrealtor.com.
First-time homebuyer Melissa has a new home and will take advantage of the first-time home buyer $8,000 tax credit. Thanks, Melissa.
If you would like to find out more about the first-time homebuyer tax credit and are interested in buying a home in the greater Austin area, call me. I'd love to help you achieve the American Dream of home ownership.
Coincidentally, it was in October that I discovered I had Breast Cancer. That was in 2006 and today I had another of many successful checkups with my Oncologist. I was really lucky. No I did not catch it early but I did catch it in time. My doctors were great, I was determined and today I am Cancer free.
Cancer is a disease that affects both men and women and the statistics are devastating. There is still so much unknown about Breast Cancer and I don't know if I inherited it from my Mother who had it, if it's because of my ethnic background ( Ashkenazim Jew), if it was the hormones in the meat I ate, the birth control pills I took or the plastic in the water bottles.
We must all be more careful about our environment for many health reasons and we must also be conscience of our health. I found my Cancer through an irregular self-breast exam. It had been 13 months since my latest mammogram and I wasn't good about the monthly self exams you are supposed to conduct. Thankfully I did check and after 7 surgeries, 6 rounds of intense chemotherapy and 33 radiation treatments, I'm alive and well.
Most of you know someone who has had Breast Cancer. Perhaps you have. My mother, 2 of my clients, 3 people in my office and countless relatives of friends that I know have. I didn't think it would be me. My Mother was only 39 so I thought I had passed the risk zone since I was 54 but there it was.
We don't yet know how to prevent Breast Cancer but early detection is key to surviving. Please do your monthly self exams and if you don't know how, ask your doctor.
By the way, my Mother is now 82 years old and my goal is to live to be 100 years old. Oh, I'll probably still be selling real estate too.
Saturday November 7, is the neighborhood curbside cleanup in Milwood - Rattan Creek Neighborhood Association. This event was once held at the park and you brought your large trash to them but last year the MUD implemented a change to pick up from you. This is for large items that aren't usually picked up on your regular trash day. Have your stuff at the curb before 7am
If your buyer is obtaining financing! Oh sure there are other options. The buyer could pay the difference in cash or the buyer and seller could split the difference but NOT in today's market.
This is a buyer's market.
The purpose of an appraisal is to ensure the buyer doesn't pay more than the property is worth. Would you pay more than a home was worth?
The lender won't. The lender wants to make sure that the house is worth the sales price because if the buyer were to default on the loan, the lender wants to make sure they can recover their loss.
The buyer won't either. Buyers want to know that they are making a GOOD investment. One that will appreciate, build equity and supply the most money possible when they sell.
In addition, if it's an FHA buyer (and because of the recent changes in the lending rules that's what most first-time homebuyers will be because of the low downpayment requirements - 3.5% ) that appraisal will remain on the FHA records for 6 months.
In a sellers market or if the property is especially desirable a buyer may be interested in paying more than appraised value but that buyer must have the cash for the difference because the lender won't make a loan for more than appraised value minus the downpayment.
The appraisal prosses is designed to protect the buyer and the lender from over paying for a property.
AMELIA BULLOCK REALTORS HAS ACHIEVED THE MD PREFERRED REAL ESTATE PROVIDER STATUS. Awarded to fewer than 100 Realtors Nationwide by US Medical Specialties, this distinction recognizes our experience with and commitment to serve healthcare professionals and physicians in our area
The AIA Austin Home Tour is October 10-11 ( Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6PM. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 the day of the tour. For tickets contact AIA Austin at 512.452.4332 or http://www.aiaaustin.org.
There will be 14 homes on the tour ranging from contemporary new homes to updated historical cottages. The tour includes areas of Central and West Austin. Featured Architechs are:
According the Texas Bar Journal, September 2009, there are some senate bills which will effect your property protest with the Texas County Tax Appraisers Office. These bills were adopted to benefit homeowners.
S.B. 771 prohibits increases for a property the year after the property's appraised value was lowered on an appeal. The exception would be if the chief appraiser can support an increase with substantial evidence.
Hopefully, if you protested in 2009, your value will not be raised in 2010 but if it is consider using this bill in your next protest. Since this is a declining market, you may wish to protest and lower your value even further next year.
H.B.1038 requires a chief appraiser to consider residential valuation of other residences in the neighborhood that have been sold in a foreclosure or declined in value due to a declining economy.
This year when I protested the appraiser wouldn't allow me to use comparatives that included foreclosure properties and they do effect your homes market value. Plus, the market is still declining as evidenced in market statistics.
Austin Area Market Statistics Made Simple. The Austin Board of Realtors compares the information with the same time period of the previous year. The following statistics are for the month of August 2009 compared to August 2008.
ACTIVE LISTINGS: 9,555 down 8%. The reduced inventory is a good thing.
SOLD : 1,793 down 10%. Demonstrates our market has not declined much compared to other areas.
MEDIAN PRICE: $189,000 down 4% area wide. Another indication that the market has not declined much.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
Congratulations to Christina, a first-time homebuyer! Christina travels so much for her job that she wanted to live close to the airport and also wanted an acre lot. I found the perfect match with this 4 bedroom home on an acre in a Bastrop neighborhood - The Colony.
First-time homebuyer Melissa has a new home and will take advantage of the first-time home buyer $8,000 tax credit. Thanks, Melissa.
AMELIA BULLOCK REALTORS HAS ACHIEVED THE MD PREFERRED REAL ESTATE PROVIDER STATUS.
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