austin real estate: Record Low Mortgage Loan Rates
- 07/14/10 02:01 PM
Record Low Mortgage Loan Rates Mortgage loan interest rates are one of the key drivers in the real estate industry. In today's economy, Freddie Mac is reporting 30-year fixed rates at historic lows. What does this mean to you? 1.) If you're thinking about selling, now is a great time because buyers will be able to afford more home at a lower monthly payment. 2.) If you want to sell and move up, a low interest rate will help you get more home for the monthly payment you pay. 3.) You might want to refinance your existing mortgage loan. Call me or email me if you'd like more … (2 comments)
austin real estate: Unclaimed Property in Texas
- 07/07/10 03:59 PM
After discovering some "lost" assets, I've been on a mission to find all the places we leave valuable stuff and forget about it. An old 401(k) from a past job, a savings bond from graduation, a checking account from college - it really adds up.So here's what's really interesting - I had everyone in my office consult the official unclaimed property website for Texas. I had always thought the site was just for lost state assets, but my assumption was incorrect. In minutes we found the following forgotten assets: $209.22 from a bank account left behind after moving cities $310.50 from … (5 comments)
austin real estate: Tax Credit Extension
- 07/02/10 07:46 AM
Legislative Alert July 1, 2010 The House and Senate have passed H.R. 5623, the "Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act," extending the first-time homebuyer tax credit to October 1, 2010 for any borrowers who've entered a binding contract by April 30, 2010. Also, the Senate approved House passed H.R. 5569, the "National Flood Insurance Program Extension Act," extending the NFIP through September 30, 2010 and reauthorizing the program retroactive to May 31, 2010. NAMB applauds members for participating in the Call-to-Action by submitting letters to Congress urging them to extend the NFIP. President Obama is expected to sign both pieces of legislation … (2 comments)
In Texas if someone who is enjoying the benefit of an Over 65 Exemption sells their homestead and moves to another homestead within the State they may take their Over 65 tax exemption with them. This can cause serious issues with the new buyer's taxes for the year in which the house is sold and in future years. Example: Sellers with the Over 65 Exemption sell their home on June 1 and move to another home which will be their homestead and they take the exemption with them. When this happens, the Appraisal District may … (1 comments)
austin real estate: Austin Ranked Third Most Recession Proof City
- 06/29/10 05:26 PM
In April of 2008, Austin was ranked the third most recession proof city by Forbes because of a lack of a housing bubble, low median home price, low unemployment, and strong job growth segments that would recover more quickly. Plus, Austin was known as "Silicon Hills" for its growing tech sector industries. Now, over two years later, the Brookings Institute has released their quarterly in-depth analysis which also ranks Austin the third most recession proof city in the U.S. The Brookings Institute analyzes the health of America's 100 largest metropolitan economies. It examines trends in metropolitan-level employment, output, and … (2 comments)
austin real estate: Why Smart Homeowners Are Moving Up at the Start of a Real Estate Recovery Cycle!
- 06/03/10 05:46 PM
Why Smart Homeowners Are Moving Up at the Start of a Real Estate Recovery Cycle! Most signs and economic indicators point to a recovery cycle in the real estate market with price stabilization. Previous perceptions of a flood of foreclosure properties are not materializing, and in fact, foreclosure filings are down. Nationally, 7.5 million homes are at least 90 days late on their mortgage. Banks are moving more aggressively toward "short sale" solutions versus foreclosing and taking an immediate loss on their books. · The Fed has stopped its tax credit program, which resulted in new home sales up 15% … (1 comments)
austin real estate: Planning for Retirement
- 06/03/10 10:55 AM
I was recently exposed to some great resources on planning for retirement. Here are my favorites you'll want to know for anything and everything to do with retirement. How long are you going to live? http://gosset.wharton.upenn.edu/mortality What are you going to get from Social Security? http://www.ssa.gov/planners/benefitcalculators.htm How much do you need to save? http://www.choosetosave.org/ballpark How long will my money last? http://www.flexibleretirementplanner.com … (1 comments)
austin real estate: Formula 1 Coming to Austin
- 05/27/10 10:16 AM
Austin, Texas has been chose to host the World Cup of Motorsports. After a 3 year hiatus, Formula One is heading back to the US. The location of the future racetrack has not yet been determined, but a facility will be built to hold the event. The race will be held here from 2012 to 2021. The race is expected to draw in an international crowd and infuse hundreds of millions of dollars into the local economy. It is expected that every hotel room from Temple to San Antonio will be booked during the event. Very exciting news for Austin!
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austin real estate: Protesting Property Tax Appraisals
- 05/20/10 12:35 PM
Protesting Property Tax Appraisals If you haven't already received your Notice of Appraised Value from your local Appraisal District you will soon. If you want to protest the appraised value there are certain guidelines and timelines you should adhere to. The deadline on when your last protest date is depends on when the Notice is sent out. Typically they go out in batches with sliding deadline dates. The Notice will have your specific deadline noted on it. It is generally 30 days from the date of the Notice (not from the date you received it).The designated value is required to indicate the … (1 comments)
austin real estate: Where the Jobs Will Come From -Austin
- 04/29/10 09:35 AM
The Workforce: Where will the New Jobs Come From? By Barbara Kiviat, published in TIME Magazine. "The good news is the perception as well as the reality is improving in some areas of the country. Just 12 out of 384 metropolitan areas ended 2009 with more jobs than they had at the beginning of the year, but more recently, the numbers have been looking better. Over the past six months (through January), 72 cities gained jobs, according to a Moody's Economy.com analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That may seem like a slow start, but it's a … (1 comments)
austin real estate: Where the Jobs Will Come From -Austin
- 04/29/10 09:35 AM
The Workforce: Where will the New Jobs Come From? By Barbara Kiviat, published in TIME Magazine. "The good news is the perception as well as the reality is improving in some areas of the country. Just 12 out of 384 metropolitan areas ended 2009 with more jobs than they had at the beginning of the year, but more recently, the numbers have been looking better. Over the past six months (through January), 72 cities gained jobs, according to a Moody's Economy.com analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That may seem like a slow start, but it's a … (0 comments)
austin real estate: Thought for the Day
- 04/29/10 06:42 AM
"Never look down to test the ground before taking your next step; only he who keeps his eye fixed on the far horizon will find the right road." Dag Hammarskjold1905-1961, Statesman and Secretary-General of U.N. Thought for the Day
For Austin Real Estate: Crystal Kilpatrick Homes ATX 512-680-5835 cell www.CrystalKilpatrick.com
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austin real estate: Thought for the Day
- 04/28/10 12:32 PM
"Set your sights high, the higher the better. Expect the most wonderful things to happen, not in the future but right now. Realize that nothing is too good. Allow absolutely nothing to hamper you or hold you up in any way." Eileen CaddyAuthor
For Austin Real Estate: Crystal Kilpatrick Homes ATX 512-680-5835 cell www.CrystalKilpatrick.com … (1 comments)
austin real estate: 6 Tips to Successfully Stage Your Home
- 04/26/10 05:20 PM
1. Staging forces you to think like a buyer - When you are working to stage your client's home to be put on the market, you'll be looking at the home as if you were a buyer. Gaining this perspective will help you in many ways when preparing a home to be listed. 2. Staging forces you to organize and de-clutter - Clearing shelves, closets and cabinets is a big part of the home staging process. It also helps with the moving process because sellers can pack items away as they are getting rid of the clutter. 3. Staging increases the … (4 comments)
austin real estate: Austin Ranks 5th Among Top 10 Places to Retire
- 04/22/10 07:17 AM
Austin Ranks 5th Among Top 10 Places to Retire Austin, Texas: According to TopRetirements.com, Austin is one of the top 10 cities attracted to those nearing retirement. Two thirds of the 100 top positions were located in Sun Belt states with warmer climates. The list was compiled by calculating which towns had the most online visits on TopRetirements.com which reflects the cities that the site's retired user community is most interested in. College towns and warm climates dominate the list, meaning that areas with abundance of intellectual and outdoor activities are popular among the retired community. Top 10 Most Popular Cities … (4 comments)
austin real estate: Where the New Jobs Come From? (Austin, TX)
- 04/19/10 04:56 PM
The Workforce: Where will the New Jobs Come From? By Barbara Kiviat, published in TIME Magazine. "The good news is the perception as well as the reality is improving in some areas of the country. Just 12 out of 384 metropolitan areas ended 2009 with more jobs than they had at the beginning of the year, but more recently, the numbers have been looking better. Over the past six months (through January), 72 cities gained jobs, according to a Moody's Economy.com analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That may seem like a slow start, but it's a … (7 comments)
austin real estate: Austin Real Estate Market
- 04/15/10 08:34 AM
The Austin Real Estate Market is hotter than I've seen it in more than two years. Buyers are out in force, anxious to find a deal and sellers are enjoying heavy buyer traffic, sometimes getting multiple offers. The number of homes sold in Austin last month rose 24% compared to March 2009 and the number of homes under contract is up 47% which indicates we'll have an even stronger April. The average price of homes sold in March rose almost 2% from $227,559 to $231,904 while the average time it took a home to sell dropped from 83 days to 69 days. … (2 comments)
austin real estate: Prepping for a Last-Minute Showing
- 04/11/10 05:43 PM
Prepping For a Last-Minute Showing It's nearly impossible to keep your home in a "show-ready" state day in and day out. In many cases you may find that your home will be shown to a prospective buyer with very little advance notice. Even if you're keeping things as clutter-free as possible, a little preparation for the actual showing is probably in order. Here are some short-term ways to get your home looking and feeling its best. Step 1: Cleaning Frenzy
Scrub tile in the kitchen and bathrooms. Thoroughly clean hardwood floors. Vacuum carpets. If time permits, rent a steam … (4 comments)
Record Low Mortgage Loan Rates Mortgage loan interest rates are one of the key drivers in the real estate industry. In today's economy, Freddie Mac is reporting 30-year fixed rates at historic lows.
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