South Austin Texas Real Estate blog: March 2009

I think everyone has heard of Ladybird Johnson's mission of wildflowers and bringing them back to the hills and roadsides of Texas.  It will be forever a living legacy to LadyBird, the bluebonnets that line our roadways and paths.  Here are a few in this drought stricken year, still they come up and show us their colors.  How Lucky am I to live in Texas and enjoy this sight every year!

OK you want to sell your home.  And you want to do it yourself, a real For Sale by Owner, or as we call them in the industry, FSBO's.   Sure you can do it yourself.  Many people are very capable and have the time.  But, just in case you didn't know, 85% of FSBO's ultimately list with a Realtor.  

In the first month of being on the market is usually when the most traffic will occur, the most visitors will inquire, this is the time your presentation to the market should be the greatest.  After a house sits on the market awhile, awhile depends on your local area and the sales volume, it could be that 90 days is awhile, it could be that 250 days is awhile, anyway, after its on the market awhile, it becomes what is known as STALE.  Same as a loaf of bread.  Its yesterdays, its STALE, why didn't it already sell is most buyers question.  

So my point here is, go ahead and list with a good agent, one who will market your home to the fullest, one who cares about your move and knows your timeline.  A Realtor can help you get to your goals with less frustration and often more money in your pocket.

Today, I started out this post to tell you a few simple things that you must know if you are going to tread those waters of FSBO.
      Disclose, disclose, disclose.  If in doubt about any issue disclose disclose disclose.
      Get a real value and price to market your home, not what next door sold for last year.  
      Get buyers preapproved.  Taking your house off the market for weeks and then to find that the buyers have no credibility is a real blow to your timeline.
      Safety first, showing safety, always err on the side of caution.

These are just a few things you need to address when you are going to sell your home.  Pricing is the number 1 reason a house sells or doesn't sell.  Remember a house must appraise for a loan in most instances.  An independent appraiser will be used by a bank or lender for value of the house, that independent appraiser will use the most current sales in the area that are most like your home to determine the value of your home.  Pricing, its the deal breaker or deal maker.  Get it right if you want it sold.

If you want to cut to the chase and get the help of a professional Realtor in Austin Texas, call me..  I can help YOU.

Circle C Ranch in Southwest Austin has a great community and calendar of events.  Sponsored by the Circle C HOA. Upcoming events for April will include.

 information and to register


Annual Easter Egg Hunt  April 11th
 Saturday, promptly at 9:30am. The cost is $1 per child.
The two younger groups (ages 1-3 and 4-6) will be at the Circle C Child Development Center and the older kids (7-10) will be at the Swim Center. The Easter Bunny will be on hand from 9am to 10:30am to pass out candy and take pictures (bring your camera). Please be sure to be On Time as the hunt will begin exactly at 9:30am and is usually over within 20 minutes.  There is a limit of 10 eggs per child, please bring a basket.

Annual Garage Sale date  April 18
Saturday all day
. Residents are encouraged to host their individual garage sale on that date; we will advertise in the Austin American Statesman and online with Craig's List. Please limit signage to your street

OK... I admit Im a news junkie, I turn the TV from CNN, FOX news, ABC news, CBS news, back to NBC news, sometimes I watch other stuff  too ...  like  CSI Miami, but the tv is background noise for me, and I flip channels here and there... meantime  I get alot of information from various viewpoints. 

This morning while listening, I rarely watch it, I heard an analysts speaking about the houseing market, OK, we know the media rarely has good news about the housing market, but this segment was fairly positive, until the anaylyst stated, well if you are buying a $200,000 house or an $800,000 house the $8000 tax credit is sure to be helpful.

HUH, then I did turn around and look,  because we have all blogged our hearts out about the $8,000 tax credit being a bonus, a good thing for a first time home buyer, but never have I been able to figure out how someone with an income of $75,000 can buy an $800,000 house.  Maybe I'm missing something here? Can someone explain this to me?

Just another example of people getting the story from someone who doesn't know or realize or understand the whole picture.  Making misunderstanding and confusing statements to the buying public is not good journalism.  (Even if they thought they were doing us a favor).  Don't muddy the waters, don't misrepresent the facts just to make it sound good, because somewhere someone is going to have to try to explain away your error.  After all, we heard it on the news. (bytheway, I heard it on CNN

Gary has a valid point here.. everyone is stressed.. let us all work next week to do one thing each day ...  lets see if we can make an improvement in our fellow man's and lady's day.  One smile at a time. 

My hometown was where the College Professer challenged his class to do A RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS, and it spread throughout the Nation, maybe next week .. its time to re-enact those Random Acts of Kindness.  What Say AR-ers?

Combining what the Austin MLS considers South Austin, 10N and 10S are the codes that are used.  Here are the current absorption rates for these areas. 

The area known as 10S is also the hot selling area in South Austin, including but not limited to, Tanglewood Forest, Stablewood, Maple Run, Cherry Creek, Western Trails, and Sunset Valley, with the rate of sells here under 90days average we often see full price offers or multiple offers when a home is priced competitively on the market.

If you are looking to buy or SELL your home in Austin call me , I can help you.

Just some new Information about the Southwest area of Austin stats from 2/1/2008 to 1/31/2009. This area includes, Circle C, Lewis Mountain, Westcreek, Village at Western Oaks, Legend Oaks, Beckett Village and Davis Place, while these are not all the areas included in the whole Southwest sales it is some geographical areas so a person can figure out which areas are Southwest.

If you are looking to buy or sell in the SOUTHWEST AREA OF AUSTIN, CALL ME, I CAN HELP YOU.

I just love being the one chosen to drive his wifey around for a week or so, and he will get me a car if I dont have one.. Now how great is that?    But, seriously folks, there are a ton of scoundrels out there working to take your money.  And with so many people losing their job, this is outrageous that a real scumbag trys to prey on them.   SO, an FYI here.   its not real, tis not true!  Read it and see how low some people will go to make others life's miserable. 

Job Vancant to me
show details 10:33 AM (28 minutes ago) Reply

HOW DO YOU DO ?
        I have contacted my wife concerning the pick up and  for other purposes which she might need you for,which she told me is okay by her,I believe you are fitted for this position in as much you will prove yourself a reliable, honest loyal and good  person.I will let you know about her arrival date as soon as i know u will be driving her.I will prefer you have your car available,I am offering you $700  weekly, and you will make  yourself available 3 times a week for her schedule for 3 to 5 hours each day, that's it, you will be working every Monday,Wednesday and Friday, she will be attending a conference meeting so you will be Pick her and drop her back at the hotel after she finishes the meeting,

Requirements...
      All you need for you to work for her is to have a copy driver's
licence scanned,your full car registration and your car..
  If you are ready to take these Job I will want you to email me the
following details.

Your full Name............................
Address in full...........................
your drivers licence number............
Phone or mobile number....................
The picture of the car is required........

Cos i will be contacting her conference people's accountant to forward you a check as payment after you agreed all the terms of this job....The accountant will be sending a payment that will cover your first week upfront salary and her expenses(Flight ticket, accommodation and other expenses) while she is with you at the conference in the state...
 If you are ok with all the terms then i will be waiting for your reply.

N.B---- Incase you do not have a car we will have to hire a car and we
will bear the expenses for that.

For any further enquiry Please call my mobile number below..

Best Regards,
Colin booth
16 Curtis Wood Rd,
Herne Bay,Kent.
CT6 7TY.
United Kingdom.
Tel: +447854349041
Mobile-+447024051739

Meridian Homes in Southwest Austin, does, stunning, fantastic, awesome bring a picture to your mind?

Meridian Homes are set on nice sized lots and the homes are impressive, its a growing community that lies just past Circle C Ranch off  Hwy 45 and FM 1826.  Next to the Grey Rock golf course, nestled among the old oak trees and the wild juniper and cedars.  The builders are doing a great job of keeping the natural environment and building around the trees.

Meridian has a wonderful community pool and park area for residents to enjoy, miles of hiking and biking trails with more amenities coming soon like Bear Lake. Close in to the Escaprment Village for shopping, Meridian is a piece of Austin Countryside within minutes of downtown Austin.

Many homes in Meridian are stone or all brick,  arched windows, art niches, granite countertops, travertine tile, master spa suites all are pretty normal in these homes, of up to 4,000 square feet.  If you are looking for a great up and coming community with privacy and close in, consider Meridian.

Call me I can help you.

Tucked behind the Y at Oak Hill with Legend Oaks across the Escarpment, the homes at Shadowridge Crossing are examples of David Weekly built during the late 1990's and early 2000's.  David Weekly homes have some really cool features like art niches, arched windows along with the granite countertops or travertine flooring, hardwoods are popular too.

Tree lined quiet street are found throughout the neighborhood, houses are brick or the ever popular Texas White Stone faces.  Landscaped yards, barbeque areas in the backyard or at the community park and pool area.

ACC Pinnacle Campus is 5 minutes away, shopping at Arbor Trails, where there is a Costco, Staples and even a Steinmart. Or go 15 minutes out Hwy 71 for massive shopping opportunities at the new Hill Country Galleria. 

One of my favorite places just around the corner from Shadowridge Crossing is the HEB market and Felicia's Scrapbook Store plus a really fun place to bargain hunt for those 600 Thread Count Egyptian Cotton Sheets, Tuesday Morning.  You never know what you will find inside Tuesday Morning, even on a Monday!

If your ready to buy in Shadowridge Crossing or other parts of South Austin or Southwest Austin, call me, I can help you.