Edward W. Lui - Georgetown Texas Real Estate Blog

Austin Texas is the best place to live! Check out the full report!

Edward W. Lui - Georgetown Texas Real Estate (Mars Hill Realty Group) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:17:34 -0500

The city of Georgetown, Texas is a growing suburb of Austin and is a part of what makes this entire Hill Country such a desirable place to live. US News and World Report cited the warm climate and the great outdoors as one of the reasons why Austin is in the top 10 for 2009. Live music and the arts, as well as a strong technology center also has helped Austin remain diverse and unique among the big cities of America. Check out the full report below: Best Places to Live 2009

Lokking for some local wine from the Hill Country? Look no further than Georgetown, Texas

Edward W. Lui - Georgetown Texas Real Estate (Mars Hill Realty Group) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:11:03 -0500

Georgetown, Texas: Homes for Retiring Wine Lovers

Every hard-working person dreams of the day of their retirement, when they can sit back, relax and enjoy the fruits of their labor throughout the remainder of their days. Ideally, people rediscover the passions they were too busy to pursue and fill the void that the lack of work suddenly leaves in their lives. This could mean moving to a region of the country or world that helps retirees experience their ideal retirement. Many retirees are discovering their retirement dreams are coming true in the wine country of Central Texas. During these pressing times, it may be more difficult than before to find a location where an affordable housing market and low cost of living will allow you to pursue fine pleasures such as wine. A recent U.S. News and Reports article has named Georgetown, Texas as one of the 10 greatest places to retire for wine lovers, an affordable and beautiful place to spend the remainder of your days. Here is a look at some wineries in the greater Georgetown area, in the beautiful Hill Country of Central Texas. The Georgetown Winery is located in Historical Downtown Georgetown and is only a short drive from Austin and all of Central Texas. They offer a wide palate of award-winning wines and an experienced wine staff on-hand that can guide you through the entire process of making your own personal batch of wine. They are open for your wine-loving needs Tuesday through Thursday, 11 AM to 6 PM and Friday and Saturday 11 AM through 9 PM. The Winery is also available after hours for private events and offer a large selection of wine gifts. Another winery in Georgetown, Texas is Vino 100. Vino 100 is a Georgetown winery that offers its consumers new ways of buying wine. Every wine has a “Wine Barometer™”, which is a tag that indicates its flavor and body, simply an easier way to buy. The entire store is laid out according to the Wine Barometer™ system, so customers can easily find the wines that suite their tastes and budgets. They also offer a variety of events, including Senior Appreciation Day every Wednesday, and all levels of wine education classes taught by certified wine specialists. The Vineyard at Florence, just outside of Georgetown, offers a truly unique experience through the first residential winery in the state of Texas. You can have a premier property built by one of the winery’s preferred builders, offering a magnificent home site with a tremendous view of the vineyard. Amenities include a private tennis court, pool and pasture areas for horses. The wine tasting villa, Villa Firenze, overlooks the vineyard and polo field for a stylistic and graceful experience for any resident or visitor to the tasting room. The tasting villa also hosts a series of ongoing educational programs, cultural exhibits and performing arts events. The Villa Firenze is also available for private weddings, special events and private parties. You don’t have to be a resident to enjoy the fruits of Villa Firenze. It’s easy to see why the city of Georgetown, Texas was voted as one of the premier places to retire for wine lovers. Along with all of retired life’s amenities, Georgetown offers a thriving variety of wineries; from the affordable to the lavish, all are affordable for any wine lover’s retirement fund.

New Facebook Page: Berry Creek Country Club in Georgetown, Texas

Edward W. Lui - Georgetown Texas Real Estate (Mars Hill Realty Group) — Sat, 16 May 2009 20:45:44 -0500

Berry Creek Country Club in Georgetown, Texas

To all you residents out there who live in Berry Creek, you now have a community forum! I just created a Facebook page for neighbors to interact, network, conduct business and get the inside scoop on Berry Creek real estate!

All you have to do is click here: Berry Creek Country Club

Getting a Facebook account is real simple and it's a great way to connect with friends...and this is just another reason to do it!:)

Looking for information on Georgetown Texas Homes For Sale? Visit my website or call me anytime!! Want the latest updates on Georgetown Texas Real Estate, news and latest developments? Sign up for the blog by clicking the link below:

Georgetown Village home for sale on Rosedale - reduced to $169,000!

Edward W. Lui - Georgetown Texas Real Estate (Mars Hill Realty Group) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:16:56 -0500

Here's a cute home in my neighborhood that has 4 bedrooms and has just been reduced to $169,000. The architecture has the same characteristics of those downtown historic homes like big front porches, large dormer windows and siding/stone exterior. However, you don't have to worry about updating the plumbing or leveling the foundation because, unlike those old historic homes, this one is built in 2004. I like these homes in Georgetown Village because it combines the best of both worlds: Old home look without the old home maintenance.

Video of home can be found here:

More information on the home can be found here: Rosedale-flyer rosedale_survey rosedale_disclosure

Looking for something to do in Georgetown Texas? Check out the RED POPPY FESTIVAL

Edward W. Lui - Georgetown Texas Real Estate (Mars Hill Realty Group) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:10:11 -0500

Ok, I know what you're thinking..."A festival that's named after a flower?" But, what a beautiful flower it is:

(Photo was taken by Lucas Adams) Every year, the city of Georgetown Texas celebrates the introduction of the Spring season and along with it, all of the beautiful flowers of the Hill Country landscape. Georgetown, just happens to be the Red Poppy Capital of Texas. If you love flowers, that's a good thing. If you only like flowers because you can give them to your wife when she's mad at you, it's still a good thing.

The Red Poppy Festival has something for everyone: Lots of live music and performances; food (time to get your Kettle Corn!); a car show (for you non-flower enthusiasts); and ofcourse a parade. This festival definitely has the kiddos in mind with lots of free entertainment being offered from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday. There will also be many local artists and crafts that will be showcased in the Red Poppy Marketplace. If local art really appeals to you, check out the Williamson Couty Art Guild. They have a Framers Gallery that starts the 1st Friday of every month and for the month of May, my friend Jason St. Peter will have his photography showcased. Get a sneak preview of his gallery by clicking here!

Ok, let's talk food and the discounts you can get. Thanks to Marcy H. for providing this information: Several Georgetown Restaurants will be offering dining specials to help kick off the Friday Night Concert. Be on the lookout for the following Red Poppy Plates: Applebee’s: 2 Can Dine for $20 (Includes 1 Appetizer and 2 Entrees. Selection is limited.) Chick-fil-A: 1 Free Red Poppy Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshake to all customers who ask. Offer is limited to only 1 per customer. County Seat Cafe: $19.99 Prime Rib Dinner Dia Thai Cuisine: $15 Basil Seafood Combo Plate, $9 Dia Thai Wrap Plate, $9 Pad Woon Sen Plate Georgetown Bar-B-Que: $7 Two Meat (sliced meat only) Plate Georgetown Winery: $3.00 Glass of Red Poppy Passion Wine, $5.00 Margaritas Monument Cafe: $15.95 Seafood Platter, $19.99 New York Strip Steak Nonna’s Cucina: $9 Nolan Ryan Half Pound Burger with Fries Pit BBQ: $7.99 Half BBQ Chicken Dinner with Drink Smokey Mo’s: $8.75 Sandwich with Two Sides and a Large Drink Tony and Luigi’s Italian Mediterranean Restaurant: All Entrees are Buy One, Get One for Half Price Fore more information, check out the website for the Red Poppy Festival. Ok, now for those of you who really just want to see the Red Poppy's don't worry, I won't let you down. Here's a map downtown where you can catch them:

~Your favorite HOMEboy, Edward

401 Ridge View - Gabriels Overlook in Georgetown Texas

Edward W. Lui - Georgetown Texas Real Estate (Mars Hill Realty Group) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 10:35:08 -0500

I'll be doing a listing appointment for this home in Gabriels Overlook today. In order to prepare for it, I'm going to be viewing 4-5 other homes in the $450,000-$525,000 price range.

These days, one would think that this price range is difficult to sell in. However, there is just over 12 months of inventory in this neighborhood and when I narrow it down to this price range, it comes out to about the same. The neighborhood has homes from the high $200's to the mid $500's.

If you're looking for a riverfront lot in this neighborhood, check out my listing here

Fountainwood in Georgetown, Texas - 204 Liz Lane - $349,000

Edward W. Lui - Georgetown Texas Real Estate (Mars Hill Realty Group) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:24:23 -0600

Pictures and map location available here

Landscaped by nature! Enjoy peaceful mornings and quiet evenings either sitting on the wide front porch looking over a meticulous lawn or the oversized covered patio and multi-level deck. Both areas expand leisure activities to the outdoors.

The beautifully wooded grounds provide shady comfort and you will love the river of rocks the current homeowners have created. Serenity is the mood as you enter this gracious home. Candle light dinners can be yours in uncrowded comfort in the spacious formal dining. Lots of wall space for your hutches too!

At your service! Come home to prepare meals quickly and efficiently in this functionally designed kitchen. Oak cabinets,island cooktop and ample countertops make for a nice work triangle.Breakfast bar provides a place for an impromptu snack or buffet service. Centrally located family room boasts the warmth of a brick corner fireplace.

Open to the kitchen and breakfast area this home is perfect for the cook who does not want to be separated from family and guests. Breakfast area also looks out into the private backyard Comfort and coziness characterize the Owner's suite, generous enough for a king size canopy bed! Crown molding, a bay window and serenity imbue the bedroom for a cat nap or an evening of rest. Double vanities promote harmony in this Queen style bath large enough for 2 to begin the day. There are his and hers walk-in closets on either side of the garden tub. A separate shower has good size seat! Generous size secondary bedrooms are on the other side of the home - one has a window seat! The 4th bedroom is set up as a study with built-in bookcases on both sides of an arched window. 2 closets provide storage. French doors open to the family room.

Stroll to the end of the cul-de-sac for a view of beautiful Lake Georgetown! This home is just minutes from an entrance to the lake, schools, and shopping. ~ Nancy Knight, Lone Star Properties

City of Georgetown, Texas - Neighborhood Map

Edward W. Lui - Georgetown Texas Real Estate (Mars Hill Realty Group) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:12:59 -0600

For the longest time, I've been wanting to add a map to my webpage. Here's something I've been working on:

View Larger Map

I want to be able to give my website visitors a good idea of the different neighborhoods in Georgetown. I'll add price ranges and pictures in the future. What else do you think I should add? Any suggestions or comments would be much appreciated!

My refi experience: Shaving $300/month off my budget

Edward W. Lui - Georgetown Texas Real Estate (Mars Hill Realty Group) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 10:23:50 -0600

This is the primo market for refinancing: I finally closed on my refinance that I was working on for the past 45 days! I went from 6.375% to 5%, eliminated $99/mo of PMI and am now saving $300/month. I was able to appraise my home high enough to give me 20% of equity, thus eliminating my PMI. The refi cost me about $3500 so I'm estimating I should make that up within the year. After that, it's $300/month of savings! It's hard work to do anything in this lending climate, but the hassle could be worth it!

Ready for your shave? Definitely run the numbers and see if it's worth it. If you're only going to be staying in your home for another 2-3 years, then it might not be. By the time you realize your savings, you would be out of the home! However, a simple way to know for sure would be to use an online amortization calculator, punch in your interest rate and home loan and compare it with today's going interest rate. Divide the cost of the refi (could be $3000-$4000) with your savings and that's the number of months it will take to make up the cost. I'm ready, now who do I call? I used Tracey Day (512-966-7246) with Home Source Mortgage in Georgetown, Texas and he worked like a dog to get all of my paperwork done. Because of my investment properties, I had a debt to income in the low 50% range and so he had to be real creative with justifying it financially! Usually, the banks scrutinize anything over a 46% debt to income ratio. So if you need some help in this area, Tracey Day has been worked over with my file and should be very experienced with just about anything now:) If you are curious about how your home will do during the appraisal process, he can connect you with some appraisers to give an opinion of your home's value. I used Pat Carey with the Georgetown Appraisal Group (512-750-8480).

So tell me about your experience....were you able to shave your budget through a recent refinance? Anybody out there beat $300/month? I'd love to hear your story! Want the latest updates on Georgetown Texas Real Estate, news and latest developments? Sign up for the blog by clicking the link below:

A bit of Tuscan in Georgetown, Texas: Tuscany Villas

Edward W. Lui - Georgetown Texas Real Estate (Mars Hill Realty Group) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:23:32 -0500

My partner in the business, Nancy Knight, is really good at developing relationships with builders in Georgetown, Texas. Together, we offer a great marketing package to builders who want maximum exposure on their homes through creative marketing ideas and a strong Internet presence.

Now you have an opportunity to check out our marketing first hand: A $750,000 home has been recently completed by Steve Gray of Blazer Custom Homes. It has a grand entryway that will knock your socks off! This open house event will take place on two weekends, 10/26 and also 11/2 from 2-5PM. $750,000 can buy a lot of home in this part of the country, come check it out and enjoy the refreshments!

Here's a postcard of the event: Tuscany Postcard You could probably tell your boss that you're in Italy, take a picture of yourself in front of the home and he'll believe you...just make sure he has a sense of humor, ok?

For more information, read the brochure: Tuscany Brochure

You can search all the custom homes available in Georgetown, TX at this link: Custom Homes in Georgetown Texas Want the latest updates on Georgetown Texas homes for sale, real estate news and latest developments? Sign up for the blog by clicking the link below and don't forget to comment on my blog, I love reader interaction!

Seclusion and Convenience: Wood Ranch in Georgetown, Texas

Edward W. Lui - Georgetown Texas Real Estate (Mars Hill Realty Group) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:28:39 -0500

Ok, so it's been awhile since I've blogged. Even though the real estate market is suppossed to be slow, I've been pretty busy actually...and forgot about my first love: Blogging.

So here is the follow-up to my previous post on this listing in Wood Ranch.

1. First, the neighborhood:

Wood Ranch is located close to Interstate 35, so it has the convenience factor nailed. In just a few minutes you can be off and on your way in 30 minutes North or South to Ft. Hood/Killeen/Temple or Round Rock/Austin for work. See my most recent post about how easy the commute is to Temple, Killeen and Ft. Hood from Georgetown. You can also hop onto Hwy 29 and go west and hit Cedar Park/Leander within minutes.

Shopping is very convenient. For groceries, you just go North on DB Wood to the nearest HEB or you can take Hwy 29E and take Wolf Ranch Parkway North to go to Wal Mart. Wolf Ranch Shopping Center is located at the SW corner of Hwy 29 and I35. Bottom Line: Getting your shopping done is a breeze from this location!

All of the homes in Wood Ranch are custom-built which leads us to the second point.

2. The builder:

Choosing a builder in Georgetown, Texas is not the easiest thing to do. Some builders have great reputations, and then the next day you hear they're bankrupt. Other builders may have no reputation at all, unless you've lived in Georgetown for the past 20 years and grew up with them. The builder of this home is Ed Wohlrab. Ed has been established in Georgetown for over 10 years and was one of the original builders for one of Georgetown's most respected custom home communities, River Chase. Ed is known for building homes around unique and challenging environments. You can get a good idea of this on his most current homes he is building by driving around in The Falls of San Gabriel. Ed Wohlrab must have had fun with this home. He built if far off the road to give it tons of privacy and most of what you see from the front porch is just rows of trees. He positioned the home just perfect so you also have a generous backyard. Privacy in the front, privacy in the back. Perfectly achieved!

3. The home:

The home is built so that the bedrooms and living areas are larger then what you see in most homes. He kept the floorplan simple and uncluttered with lots of hallways and nooks and crannies. Just large bedrooms and living spaces that flow into each other very intuitively. Pictures speak louder than words, so this is the part of the post where I can show off my camera skills:

Front of Home and View from Front Porch

Back of Home and View from Back Porch

Interior Shots

You can read more details on Wood Ranch and search all the homes available in this custom home neighborhood at this link: Custom Homes in Georgetown Texas Want the latest updates on Georgetown Texas Real Estate, news and latest developments?

Hey Ike - Weren't you ever taught not to litter in Texas?

Edward W. Lui - Georgetown Texas Real Estate (Mars Hill Realty Group) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 23:54:30 -0500

We had a men's retreat at church planned for this weekend and I was secretly hoping to go down to SE Texas instead to help with the Hurricane Ike mess. Lo and behold, God answered my prayers!

Apparently, the retreat center is going to use their facilities to house refugees from the hurricane, and so a couple of men are going down to the Houston area to provide some debris clean-up relief as part of a ministry team called Thirst No More.

I'll be leaving Fri-Sun and Autumn and the kids had already planned on going up to Arlington, TX to visit with her family so it's perfect timing. I'm assuming outdoor accommodations and a huge shortage of food and water as well. Basically, what I faced in Iraq without the heat...but replace the heat with water and you have Galveston.

If you have anything to donate for this trip it would be much appreciated by those who are going and those who are affected in SE Texas. You can drop off at my home at 125 Village Park Drive if you can donate or lend anything. Here's a list of suggested items:

Gas containers

Gas containers filled with Gas! (no gas in that area is available)

Camping-type equipment (stovetop, lanterns, tents, mosquito nets,etc)

Light construction-type tools (sledge hammers, shovels, crowbars,etc)

Equipment (generators, pressure washer, chain saws,etc)

Want the latest updates on Georgetown Texas Real Estate, news and latest developments? Sign up for the blog by clicking the link below and don't forget to comment on my blog, I love reader interaction!

Resale home in Wood Ranch, Georgetown Texas to hit the market: 109 DB Wood Road

Edward W. Lui - Georgetown Texas Real Estate (Mars Hill Realty Group) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:53:17 -0500

109 DB Wood - Wood Ranch in Georgetown, Texas

UPDATE ON THIS BLOG HERE

Homes in this neighborhood are either loved or hated. Loved, because they're so close to I35 access and convenient for commuters working either in the Ft. Hood/Killeen/Temple area or for those going South into Austin. Hated, because the road itself, DB Wood Road, is such a busy street. Now you can have your cake and eat it too!

This home is on 1.5 acres and it sits so far back from the road that you can't even see it. You get the advantages of a closer commute, without the noise of a busy road. Your only view will be the privacy of large mature oak trees on your 1.5 acre property.

More to come on this very unique custom home, intuitively designed and built by Ed Wohlrab, a local custom home builder in Georgetown, Texas. I'll be posting more details and pictures here soon. Priced in the $300's - single story with 2690 SF.

Working in Temple, Ft. Hood or Killeen, Texas and want to live in Georgetown? There's still hope!

Edward W. Lui - Georgetown Texas Real Estate (Mars Hill Realty Group) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:39:46 -0500

You hear a lot about how Georgetown, Texas is such a great place to live for people who work in Austin. But what about 30 minutes in the other direction North? Well, that would land you right in Temple and the entire Killeen/Ft. Hood area.

Don't be scared off by the picture on the left...that would be more like your commute to Austin, then Temple. You see, if you're heading north, there rarely is any traffic! Heading south into Austin, well, that's another story.

I have recently had an influx of clients who are working in Temple/Ft. Hood/Killeen and one thing that is important to all of them is the drive time. So here's a little research I put together thanks to the power of Google maps. These calculations were done to the entrance of the neighborhood to the Hwy 195 exit 268. You'll want to add another minute or two to get to the actual home.

These are all close to 10 minutes or less:

Shady Oaks = 4.1 Miles (6 Minutes)

Berry Creek/Logan Plateau = 4.5 Miles (8 Minutes)

Falls of San Gabriel = 5.8 Miles (9 Minutes)

Georgetown Village = 5.4 Miles (9 Minutes)

Historic Georgetown Square = 5.4 Miles (9 Minutes)

River Chase = 6.7 Miles (9 Minutes)

Wood Ranch = 7.5 Miles (11 Minutes)

These are all 15-20 minutes:

Fountainwood Estates = 8.4 Miles (14 Minutes)

Cimarron Hills = 11.9 Miles (15 Minutes)

Woodland Park = 9.1 Miles (15 Minutes)

Teravista = 12.2 Miles (15 Minutes)

Mayfield Ranch = 13.7 Miles (15 Minutes)

Gabriels Overlook = 12.6 Miles (16 Minutes)

Behrens Ranch/Walsh Ranch 14.1 Miles (16 Minutes)

Escalera Ranch = 12 Miles (17 Minutes)

From the Hwy 195 exit 268 to Temple exit 301 is 33.8 miles or 30 minutes. So you can get to Temple from any of these neighborhoods in 36 - 47 minutes one way. If you drive faster you can probably deduct another minute or two. Driving like a Grandma? Well, add another 5 minutes. Anyways, you get the point. I'd be interested in some actual results! Do you live in one of these neighborhoods and work in Temple? How accurate are these times? Post your results!

Georgetown Village - Yes, there ARE Big Lots here!

Edward W. Lui - Georgetown Texas Real Estate (Mars Hill Realty Group) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:45:20 -0500

Don't worry, I'm not talking about this Big Lots,

I'm talking about THIS:

That's right, .25 acres of beautiful irrigated grass that backs up to a panoramic view of the woods. It's hard to find a lot like this in Georgetown Village. The lot has a nice slope towards the back of it, which would be ideal for building an in-ground pool with a negative edge that gently slips off into the horizon. You can best get this view from the back patio, living room and kitchen:

The kitchen is connected to the living room through a space that's perfect for a large breakfast table and all of the counters and art niches have granite counters. Wood floors are in the kitchen, great room, study, dining room and hallways and the owners have used top quality plantation shutters, honeycomb shades and blinds in all of the windows. There are also granite countertops in the hallway "Tech center."

One of the unique features of this home is that it is over 2400 SF and has 3 bedrooms and 3 full baths. The owners designed the floorplan to give this home two master suites so that you can have maximum flexibility:

There are also many great energy saving features in this home: Radiant barrier paint in the attic, Low-E windows, ceiling fans and a very efficient 13 seer air conditioning unit. The home also has 10 foot ceilings, an oversized garage and a front and rear covered porch. If you've been wishing homes had bigger yards in this neighborhood, you can stop wishing and check this home out for yourself. The price is $269,900 and it is also available for a lease or lease purchase for $1600/month for the first year.

Want the latest updates on Georgetown Texas Real Estate, news and latest developments? Sign up for the blog by clicking the link below:

Property Taxes in Georgetown Texas

Edward W. Lui - Georgetown Texas Real Estate (Mars Hill Realty Group) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:41:47 -0500

Property taxes are pretty high in Georgetown, Texas. Anywhere in Texas for that matter. The last thing you should do is pay more than you need to.

In a previous post on property taxes in Williamson County, I revealed the actual value that the Williamson County Appraisal District appraised some homes for:

Boxwood Loop - Appraised for $171,607

Westbury Lane - Appraised for $160,324

Rosebud Lane - Appraised for $214,193

Greenside Lane - Appriased for $182,535

Well, here are the resuts:

Boxwood Loop - Adjusted to $153,600

Westbury Lane - Adjusted to $152,400

Rosebud Lane - Adjusted to $184,000

Greenside Lane - Adjusted to $158,300

That's a total reduction of $80,359.

Assuming a tax rate of 2.4%, I just saved $1928/year in taxes. Now that's worth fighting for! I believe that service happens before and after every transaction so I provide this tax-fighting service free to my clients every year. Did you get good results fighting your taxes this year? If so, let us know your experience. This blog gets more interesting when you give your feedback!

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Invitation to current or aspiring real estate professionals: Williamson County Tech Tune-Up

Edward W. Lui - Georgetown Texas Real Estate (Mars Hill Realty Group) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:23:36 -0500

I thought this was pretty neat: Our local board of Realtors (Williamson County Association of Realtors) is having an educational convention centered on technology for all real estate professionals. This is especially important in this day when everything we do requires a battery or a plug. If you're a real estate agent and not in tune with the way people are using technology to communicate and work, it's time for a TUNE UP!

So, they're doing something new this year called a PEER PANEL. These are real estate professionals who will be speaking on a certain aspect of technology such as Websites, Search Engine Optimization, etc. Well, they asked me to speak on the topic of BLOGGING! I'm pretty humbled since this is the first full year I've been blogging, but it just goes to show that you don't have to BE an expert to be CONSIDERED an expert. Taking the slogan from Nike (with a little adjustment): "Just Blog it!" Or, in other words, if you're new...just keep blogging and soon it will pay off and soon you'll find your "writing style." Before you know it, others will too.

Register Here

The Technology Peer Panel is a group of Real Estate professionals just like yourself. They will discusss how they use technology in their businesses and tips on things you can do in your business. Each speaker brings his/her own unique spin on technology and what impact it has had on their profession. - September 5; 1-2:30PM

Want the latest updates on Georgetown Texas Real Estate, news and latest developments? Sign up for the blog by clicking the link below:

Who's got the best playscape in Texas?

Edward W. Lui - Georgetown Texas Real Estate (Mars Hill Realty Group) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:15:31 -0500

Why Georgetown, Texas ofcourse!

Texas Monthly magazine recently ranked the Creative Playscape in Georgetown's San Gabriel Park as the best in state. I asked my wife what she thought about it and, although she likes it, she mentioned that it was actually a little too big for our little kids and she would have a hard time keeping track of them. Maybe a great place for the older kids...or mom's who are a little more care-free. Anyway, the Austin American Statesman wrote an article on it and I've included it below for your convenience:

Georgetown playscape ranked best in state
Texas Monthly magazine praises San Gabriel Park playscape.
By Bob Banta
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Thursday, July 17, 2008

GEORGETOWN — When Raoul Perez drove into Georgetown on an errand last week from his home in Marble Falls, he ran into an unexpected delay.

"My daughter, Adrianna, looked out of the car window and saw the playscape here and just had to stop and play on it," Perez said as he pushed his 1-year-old son, Julian, on a swing while Adrianna, 7, explored the playscape's maze of tunnels and towers.

Adrianna's attraction to the 15-year-old Creative Playscape in Georgetown's San Gabriel park is not unusual. Designed by architect Robert Leathers of Ithaca, N.Y., the facility was named favorite playground for children in the April issue of Texas Monthly magazine.

"With all the places to run and hide, no game of tag will ever be the same after your kids have played here," said the article, compiled by a team of writers.

"I've seen buses of school kids from as far away as Salado," said Kimberly Garrett, director of Georgetown's Parks and Recreation Department. "We draw people from a 30-mile radius."

The structure, built by volunteers in 1993 and funded with $140,000 in donations, consists of walkways, tunnels and elevated wooden bridges that are stained dark brown. Pagodas loom over the assembly of swings, firefighter poles and bouncing rope bridges.

The heavy plank walls of the tunnel and corridor system are decorated with carvings of ancient buildings and log cabins, and colored tiles painted by children line square posts at the entrance to the playscape. Shade from an oak tree gives it a shadowy, brooding, Harry Potter-like atmosphere.

It's spooky enough to satisfy older kids but not scary enough to frighten toddlers.

"They love playing hide-and-seek and running through all the different structures," said A.J. Green, who drove from Jarrell to let his two grandsons, ages 10 and 5, run off some energy. "We come here almost once a week."

Longtime Georgetown resident Tom Swift, a staff secretary in the health and counseling services office of Southwestern University, managed the citizens committee that raised money and helped build the playscape. "Our priorities in building it were safety, engagement and beauty. We also wanted it to be accessible to everyone," he said.

Swift said he knew they had been successful when the mother of a boy with cerebral palsy told him shortly after the playscape opened that the high-backed swings allowed her son to enjoy the playground with other kids for the first time in the boy's life.

"What had been a field of weeds literally turned into a field of dreams," Swift said.

The kids and parents who play there agree.

"I like everything about the playscape," said Joshua Peyton Mohle, 6, who visits it regularly.

His mother, Inger Peyton, said the playscape gives parents a chance "to just chill out and play with your kids."

Bradley Green, 10, enjoys the open-air feeling.

"I like the tire swing," he said. "And I like just being able to run and climb and have fun outside."

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Another real estate agent turns 32...me.

Edward W. Lui - Georgetown Texas Real Estate (Mars Hill Realty Group) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:43:20 -0500

Yep, today is my 32nd birthday and I've never had a chance to blog about a birthday so I thought I would give it a shot. Thirty-two big ones on planet earth! Woohoo!

My wife and kids are making me a cake and I think Joshua is more excited about it than I am. Later tonight, I'm going to my bible study, called a Real Life Group, and hanging out with some friends of mine from church. I also took a buyer to look at some homes earlier this morning. Nothing too exciting, but I don't really mind "low-key" celebrations. Spending some time with family and friends and then doing what I love (real-estate) is a real blessing. I'm thankful that God reminds me of that today.

If you really must get me a gift though, I'm looking for a pretty awesome landscaper who can design my backyard....know of any?

Choosing a gas station in Georgetown, Texas

Edward W. Lui - Georgetown Texas Real Estate (Mars Hill Realty Group) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:29:52 -0500

These days you mention anything with the word "gas" and you can get all sorts of attention...so I'm cheating with this blog post to get some additional readership

If you searched for GAS PRICES, GAS STATIONS, GAS IS GOING UP, GAS IS GOING DOWN and/or GEORGETOWN, TEXAS I hope this blog comes up. Don't worry, I will actually write something relevant:

My parents and my older sister, Jennie and her whole family, came down from Maryland to visit us a few weeks ago. It was nice, we stayed in a time share at San Antonio and then spent a few days in Georgetown, Texas. Well, since all things must come to an end, it was soon time for me to drive them back to Austin Bergstrom International Airport (just 40-50 minutes from Georgetown). I left at about 4-5 AM since it was an early flight and I needed to get gas. So I went down Williams Drive and thought I would hit the most convenient gas station I saw:

Wow, this looks like a very nice place. Lots of bright lights and existing vehicles tell me that this place is open! However, when I got here, for some reason the first pump would not accept my credit card. As a matter of fact, neither would the second pump I drove to. I tried a debit and a credit card and no luck. What was worse was that the pump started asking me all sorts of silly questions that took me forever to scroll through. WORD OF ADVICE: If you're in a hurry, and you're in a hot Texas summer, avoid gas stations that advertise the "TOUCHLESS CAR WASH" Why? It's just another silly option that they offer and it can delay the whole gas filling process. What happened to the good 'ole days when the only options you had was the type of gas you wanted. Now, they start trying to sell anything from soda, to oil additives to car washes at the pump!

Anyway, since I struck out at Valero with their non-credit card working pumps I hopped on down to the only other gas station that was open at this hour on Williams Drive:

Another nice looking gas station and gas here was actually a whole penny cheaper! Wow! So I saved about a quarter filling up here. Options were kept to a minimum (no brushless car wash system here) and the pumps actually worked!

So, the next time you come rolling into my part of town, go for the big name in gas: TEXACO. You'll sweat less (by having less options to scroll through), pay less and be finished quicker!

Buying a Green home in Georgetown, Texas

Edward W. Lui - Georgetown Texas Real Estate (Mars Hill Realty Group) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:10:32 -0500

Craftsman-style home by Green Builders in Georgetown Texas

A few weeks ago, I helped one of my favorite clients, Rod and Carol, purchase a home by Green Builders in my neighborhood Georgetown Village. This was very special for me because it now meant that I have sold every major builder that has been built in this neighborhood! That would include Perry Homes, Bowen Homes and Origin Homes; which are the current builders, and also some past builders like David Weekley, Lennar and Morrison. That seems like a lot of builders for a small neighborhood of around 500 homes like Georgetown Village, but as we move forward, it seems as though only Green Builders and Perry Homes will be doing the bulk of the building.

After I showed the home to Rod and Carol I jokingly told them that I liked the floorplan so much that if they didn't buy it, I would! The funny thing is, soon after they closed on the home, a contract on this home (pictured above) fell through and it came back on the market. It was the same exact floorplan as the one I had sold to Rod and Carol! So after a few days of negotiation, I am now the future owner of a Green Builders home! The beauty of this is that it's just 5 houses down on my same street...so no moving truck needed:)

My wife is pretty excited because we gain an extra bedroom and lots more space. It may not look very large, but it's 2400 SF and has 4 bedrooms, a gameroom, a study and a large studio above the garage which adds an additional 400 SF.

This studio is the main reason we're moving. I've been blessed to be able to work from home, but the downside is that it's hard to focus and concentrate with 3 kids running around in the home! Now, I can bring clients to my office without having to do the "5 minute house clean-up", I can better focus on my work, and I'll be better able to STAY AWAY from work when I'm with the family. I mean, what good is it to work from home yet not gain any additional quality time with the family? So, here's to HIGHER quality family time and LOWER energy bills!

If you have an experience with Green Builders please share them with me on this post! This blog is boring without any outside feedback and what you have to contribute can help somebody else!

Check out my home video for the tour:

Georgetown Texas's oldest custom home neighborhood - Serenada

Edward W. Lui - Georgetown Texas Real Estate (Mars Hill Realty Group) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 09:26:13 -0500

Tempting buy in venerable neighborhood: Time-honored custom home on a 1 acre lot thriving with trees. Priced at only $249,500

The Greenest feature in the home: You may have heard industry-talk of “R-values” in relation to a home’s insulation and how that helps you save on your energy bills. Well, nothing is better than the T-value. Yes, that “T” stands for TREEES. There are over 50 mature trees speckled on this 1 acre lot that provide shade to this home from every direction. If the sun rarely hits your home, it would naturally make sense that it would require much less energy to cool it in the summer. The front porch and the rear covered patio also provide additional overhang over the windows to prevent direct sunlight from shining into the home. Despite this great energy-saving feature, the interior of the home gets plenty of natural light due to recent window renovations.

Living in Serenada: Among many Georgetown residents, this neighborhood is considered a desireable place to live for three good reasons. First, it’s located close to Williams Drive which gives you quick access to major roads. Second, it’s one of the original custom home neighborhoods in Georgetown so you won’t find many “cookie-cutter homes” here and availability of homes is more scarce. Case in point, at the time of this writing there is only half the amount of supply (3 months) in this neighborhood compared to all of Georgetown. Lastly, you can still find wooded acreage homes here without spending twice as much and driving twice as far. This home has a desireable location, with easy access to major roads and sits on one wooded acre. With over 2500 SF and 4 bedrooms and a custom built workshiop it just might be one of the best values left in this market.

If you’re familiar with Georgetown Texas real estate, you’ll notice that lots like these are selling for $150,000 just down the road. Here’s your chance to own a custom home on a one-of-a-kind lot for under $250,000. Would you like a private showing? Contact Edward at 512-554-9594 or Nancy at 512-818-4892

Other Features:

Two Bonus Rooms If you’re like most families, you typically need another room for a study, playroom or library. This flexible floorplan has a large room towards the front of the home that is perfect for that extra space. Need another living space? There is also a second, smaller bonus room located off the garage.

Large Living Room The first thing you will notice when you walk into the room are the thick wood beams lined across the ceiling. The space is saturated with natural light and is larger then most modern living rooms. It is located adjacent to the kitchen for a nice, open floorplan perfect for entertaining.

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Underwriters just "doing their job" or being a little overzealous? What's your call? Read on...

Edward W. Lui - Georgetown Texas Real Estate (Mars Hill Realty Group) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:03:40 -0500

I'm in the middle of buying my next home here in my neighborhood, Georgetown Village in Georgetown, Texas and my loan is almost out of underwriting. Then I get the call from my lender that goes something like this:

Hi Edward, there's just one more thing they need.

Sure, what is it?

Well, the underwriters are having a hard time accepting this home as a primary residence

Ok, that's easy..."Yes...it is." Can you just tell them that? Isn't this what I indicated when I applied?

Yes, but they want you to write them an explanation and "convince" them because you bought other investment homes in the past in this neighborhood and this one is only a few houses down from you.

At this point, I was a little annoyed. They were questioning my integrity! I applied and said it was NOT an investment home but would be owner-occupied, so what's the big deal? Ok, so I own other homes in this neighborhood and I bought 3 of them last year. I'm not sure how that relates. But, if I really WAS lying, why would I suddenly stop now? So, I tell my lender

Oh, I'll "convince" them...you can expect the email shortly.

And I send them this...

This email is to affirm my intent to occupy the home on 125 Village Park Drive as my primary residence. Although, I have purchased many investment homes in the past, in this same neighborhood, they were all purchased with the INITIAL INTENT to invest in them and rent them out. They are also all priced BELOW my current primary residence. It would seem to make sense that if my stated intent is to purchase this home on 125 Village Park Drive, as a residence and NOT an investment, that I would follow-through with this commitment, otherwise that would be considered fraudulent, dishonest and maybe even illegal. All of which I would never want any part of.

In addition to the fact that I'm qualifying for this home as a residence and not an investment, there are several other facts that must be mentioned that support the legitimacy of my intent:

1. This home is priced ABOVE my current primary residence which would classify this as a typical MOVE-UP purchase. All of my other rental homes were priced below with significant (20-25% down) cash down so that it would cash flow. This home would be a poor investment choice and could never cash flow given the mortgage and current rental prices

2. This is 4 bedrooms and my current home has 3 bedrooms; it also has 2400 SF and my current home has 2000 SF. Lastly, this home has 400 SF of space above the garage which will be converted to my home office which is one of the main reasons I am moving. I have 3 children under the age of 4 and have worked from a small study for the past 5 years in this home. If anyone has had children before, they can understand the reason for this move!

3. I purchased my current home when I was single, 6 years ago. I am purchasing this home, 3 kids, a wife and a minivan later. Yes, that sounds like a move-up to me.

I hope this helps clarify my intent to purchase this home for a primary residence. If you or the underwriters would like to call me for further clarification please don't hesitate to call me.

As far as me moving down the street, what person would NOT want to move their belongings a short distance and find the perfect home this close by? This means less time packing and unpacking a moving truck and more time enjoying my glass of ice cold lemonade on the front porch of my new home overlooking the neighborhood park.

So, what do you think? Were the underwriters being a little overzealous or just doing their job? Do you think what they did would really prevent a liar from stop lying at that point? I mean, if a guy is going to say he's going to occupy it and then really rent it out, why would writing a letter change that? Is this just more "busy work" or is it really effective? I'd love to hear a situation from a lender or underwriter that was similar to this, but had different results (i.e. the purchaser wrote the letter and admitted he was secretly buying the home as an investment but was qualifying it as owner-occupied)

Message to Underwriters/Banks: It's hard enough to qualify somebody these days, give us "legitimate" buyers a break! Sheesh!

(Bet that picture makes you thirsty huh?)

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Tough mortgage question - who can answer this one?

Edward W. Lui - Georgetown Texas Real Estate (Mars Hill Realty Group) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:17:14 -0500

What's today's mortgage rate? That, my friend, is the million dollar question.

Ok, so I'm buying a house: the "cat is officially out of the bag." I tried to keep it low-key because i wanted to surprise my in-laws. I wanted to wait for them to visit me and find renters in my current home! I would have LOVED to see that!

So, I'll write about this homebuying experience later. For now...what's today's mortgage rate?

I locked my loan for 6.375% because I was told that rates went up today on the 30 year fixed. However, later this evening I was told by another lender that rates went down!

So what gives? Like any resourceful, diligent young real estate agent I decided to Google this. I Googled "daily mortgage rate history" and "mortgage rates" to get to the bottom of this. I found three articles:

This one says that rates are unchanged - http://www.reuters.com/article/gc03/idUSN1043138120080710

This one says that rates are higher - http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/10/real_estate/mortgage_rates/?postversion=2008071013

This one says that rates are lower - http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/finance/bankrate-mortgage-rates-fall-weeks-row/

Can you figure this out? First one to give me an answer gets Starbucks on me...

Georgetown Texas market update - still a buyer's market

Edward W. Lui - Georgetown Texas Real Estate (Mars Hill Realty Group) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:25:33 -0500

There is over 6 months of inventory in Georgetown, TX. Yeah, I'd say it's a buyer's market. So, if you're looking to change your surroundings and buy a home now is a good time.

Advice to sellers: Don't sell if you don't have to. If you have to sell, price AHEAD of the market or else your home will just sit there. Or if you want to upgrade, then sell. You might not make as much as you wanted, but hey, if you're staying in the area you'll be able to take advantage of the market as a buyer

Advice to buyers: It's time to buy! Prices are expected to continue to decline, but many analysts are expecting that to taper off by the end of the year. Buy an investment home. Or buy the home you've been wanting to get, but have been holding off....or do both! This market is solid and for long-term owners, you have nothing to fear. I'm following my own advice and have been trying to buy as many investment homes as I possibly could over the past 2-3 years. I'll continue to do that because I'm a big believer that the Georgetown Texas real estate market has a strong foundation. In fact, I think I will do both! More on that in a future post:)

Here's a Credit Suisse June housing report on the Austin market you might find interesting.

Austin, TX – Modest Price Declines Likely to Continue (12,137 single-family permits in 2007, 13th largest market in the country) Buyers continue to wait for better deals. Our buyer traffic index fell to 25.0 in May from 30.0 in April, indicating deteriorating traffic, below agents’ expectations (readings below 50). Agents said an expectation of further price declines seems to be the main impediment holding many potential buyers back (although recent fears about the economy and employment outlook are also key drivers of weak traffic levels). In addition, several agents noted increased competition from homebuilders who are undercutting re-sale pricing. Austin has remained relatively healthy compared to many markets given limited price declines, but we see increasing risks based on rising inventories and a longer time to sell. We expect that buyers will likely continue to wait on the sidelines for the near future. Prices fall modestly; rising inventory points to further declines. Our price index improved to 41.7 in May from 26.7 in April, still indicating modestly lower prices as compared with last month (readings below 50 point to lower prices over the past 30 days). Agents noted an increase in REO listings adding to existing inventories and continuing to weigh on home prices. Our home listings index measured 29.2 in May (from 13.3 in April) below a neutral reading of 50. Buyers are also increasingly aware of the growing inventory, as nearly all agents noted a longer time needed to sell a home in May relative to April. We generally view a longer time needed to sell as a negative indicator for future pricing trends, as sellers typically reduce their asking price the longer their home sits on the market. Comments from real estate agents:

■ “Families are cutting back on expenses to make ends meet, and are rethinking whether they want to move-up to a larger home or stay where they are.”

■ “New home builders are capturing buyers who typically would have purchased an existing home.” Interested in keeping up with the latest Georgetown Texas real estate market updates? Subscribe to this blog!