South Austin Texas Real Estate blog: April 2009

Just finished watching the special announcement and broadcast about the Swine Flu outbreak, locally we haven't had any reported, but down the road in Schertz, there are several cases with one death, a visiting family from Mexico had a child come down ill and unfortunately did not survive.  Our hearts and prayers go out to the family.

Governor Rick Perry has issued a state wide alert but said NO NEED TO PANIC, so far its contained, we are watching carefully and if you come down ill with flu like symptoms, please seek medical help early as its very treatable.

So far in the USA there are about 65 confirmed cases in several states.  While this is not of epidemic proportions it can be contained.  One of the best ways to avoid viruses is WASH YOUR HANDS, often with soap and hot water.  There are many pocket santizing treatments available now too.

Do you know who touched that grocery cart before you?  The ATM buttons, the coins you handle? Of course we don't. So we can take precautions above and beyond the normal.  

Think about where you are putting your hands, where do your hands go next?  I heard on a broadcast yesteday that most transmission of viruses is from hand to eyes or hand to mouth.  That made me think in a new way.  Keep yourself safe, your family and show your children how to maintain safety and still going out and about doing our daily life.  A little caution will go a long way to keep safe.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to take my 4yr old -almost 5 yr old  (in 2 weeks) grandson (Bryce) to daycare.  Usually his dad takes him but dad had an early morning appointment so I stepped up and volunteered. After all it would give me a chance to spend a few extra minutes with him, just Bryce and gran.   Now how cool is that?  Way cool I tell you....  grandsons are really the reward for getting old, I would imagine that granddaughters are too but I can only speak of grandsons because I have 3 of them.

So, we get to Mz Elizabeths daycare center,  uneventful, just chatting about what makes fog different than low clouds...  as we were having a bit of a rainy day and it  was sorta foggy on the mountain but not really fog like normal fog, anyway, it was a good ride with a bit of chatter.

I got out of my car and walked around to the back door to help Bryce get out, after all he is only 4 (almost 5) and still has to be buckled up in a car seat.   So, I opened the door and Bryce looked me in the eye, he is already unbuckled, and he says in his true childlike honesty   " I'm a Fixing to get out"   I looked  in amazement at what he said, he repeated for me, "Grandma, I'm a fixing to get out right now".

Now since living in Texas for the past 14 or so years I have heard that phrase many times, but it's not something that is commonly heard in our house, " I'm a fixing"  .. .yesterday I realized we have now evolved...  we are Texans now.   It's a good thing!  Texas is a wonderful place to live, bring up children and have roots.  And now I'm a fixing to go comment on some other blogs. 

Austin is joining many other communities on May 3, 2009 in featuring Lemonade Day, its going to be a community wide event with children learning how business works first hand.  The kids will setup and sell Lemonade and hopefully earn a profit. All in a mini-business setting.  

The Lemonade stands will serve traditional Lemonade flavor plus a variety of  flavored lemonades, one I heard about sounds very yummy, Strawberry Kiwi Lemonade.  Now that will quench any Thirsty Texans parched throat on a 90 degree day.  I also heard about a chocolate Lemonade but I think I would need to pass on that one.  

So help a youngster learn about business and if you see a Lemonade stand this weekend, stop and grab a cup, oh yeah, tips are appreciated!

Further Information can be found at the Lemonade Day website.

What are the factors that determine if a house is marked SOLD or EXPIRED?

Every homeowner that puts their house on the market to sell expects to see a SOLD sign soon.   There are hopes and dreams and plans that depend on the SOLD sign.  Moving to a new location.  A new job.  Closer to the kids or grandkids.  Closer to the lake for boating and fishing.  Closer to the beach or mountain.  All dreams awaiting to become reality.

So what are the factors of a SOLD or EXPIRED listing?   How can I make sure my home goes into the SOLD Column?  We are all aware the biggest factor is location.  If you are in the location of the decade your home will probably sell quicker than a similar house 3 miles away.  But, our home is where it is.  I can't change the location.

The next largest factor, and some say its actually first nowadays, is PRICE.   Is my home priced right?  I don't want to give it away... I put in extras.   No one expects you to give away your home.  But, are you at the market price?  

Take this example: at the supermarket we are seeing a market price on vegetables for instance.  Is the lettuce crop abundant this year?  Did the farmers get enough rain?  Is there a drought? All these things effect how much we will pay for our lettuce.  Are the farmers seeing an over abundance of lettuce and can't recoup their costs of production?  Then the pendulum swings in our (the buyers) direction and we get exceptionally good buys. But if we are the farmer, we lose money.

This is an overly simple way to look at your home for sale.  Did I buy when it was cheaper and can afford to sell it now?  Did I buy at the maximum price and will I be expected to lose money?  Somewhere there is a middle ground.  Is now the time for me to sell?  (this is not to discount those people who are at the mercy of jobloss or other economic factors)  

There are many places in our country today that are not being hit with the massive foreclosures and short sales we see touted on the media daily,  NOT every seller is underwater or in distress or lives in an area of distress.  I am speaking to those who are not in that category.  But, I digress, let me proceed back to what takes me from FOR SALE or to EXPIRED?

Most of the homes I see on our MLS that are EXPIRED, most are due to pricing issues, sometimes to condition.  But if the price was aligned with the condition, there would still be no issue with condition.  Another factor in todays on line world of  marketing your home is the photos that are displayed. Or the lack of photos and the quality of the photos.

Photos are the showcase for your home.   This is how that person looking on line will get that first glimpse of your home, (yes, 80% of all buyers start their search ON LINE, thats a National Association of Realtors statistic) .  This is where many buyers will rule out your home.  Over, done, period end, they will not even get past the pictures. Folks believe me I have seen this happen over and over.

I have viewed numerous listings on line with only 1 picture from the street.  Or how about those photos that the rooms are dark and shadowy?  Are those the view of your home you are wanting the buyers to see?  Buyers want to see clean, uncluttered nicely staged homes.  While no one expects a furniture store display in each room, each room can be made more presentable with decluttering.  Oh I know that your ballerina collection isn't clutter.  At least to you it isn't.  But, do you want that buyer to remember the ballerina collection or the beautiful master spa suite? or the awesome kitchen with the built in cherry cabinets?

So here are a couple of great instance that will take your home from the FOR SALE to the SOLD and not leave you in the EXPIRED listing and dreams gone awry column.  Talk to a  PROFESSIONAL REALTOR and together get the results that will out your home in the SOLD column.

CALL ME AND LETS GET YOUR HOME IN THE SOLD COLUMN.  GAIL TASSEY 512-217-9482

  Did you know that you can file an amended return and claim that money anytime this year.  You do not have to wait until you file your 2009 taxes to claim the Tax Credit.

Per the IRS Website...  

• File now, amend later. Taxpayers due a sizable refund for their 2008 tax return but who also are considering buying a house in the next few months can file their return now and claim the credit later.  Taxpayers would file their 2008 tax forms as usual, then follow up with an amended return later this year to claim the homebuyer credit.
  
  
• Amend the 2008 tax return. Taxpayers buying a home in the near future who have already filed their 2008 tax return can consider filing an amended tax return. The amended tax return will allow them to claim the homebuyer credit on the 2008 return without waiting until next year to claim it on the 2009 return.

This is great news for everyone who is eligible for the $8,000 Tax Credit... you can go out and purchase new landscaping, new floors, new carpet, new blinds and a whole shopping cart of other things with that money.

  You can claim it now. Well, as soon as you close on your new home.   Awesome!! Any tax preparer can help you file a 1040X (an amended return) and it isn't long before that $8,000 is in your checking account.  THIS YEAR.  Now doesn't that make perfect sense to go ahead and get that new home now, while interest is at an all time low and home prices are the lowest we have seen in many years.

I am excited about this part of the  $8,000 Tax Credit I can see many people realizing a dream this year in Austin Texas.  South Austin has some awesome buys right now, builders are having close-out on inventory homes and we can get great prices.  If you qualify for the $8,000 Tax Credit isn't that just icing on the cake.

Call me and let's go shopping for your new  home this weekend.  Gail 512-217-9482

Buying a LISTING

Reading today about overpricing listings on another blog, I knew I would never take that listing.  I  have had my fill of overpriced listings to feed someones ego, I go to listing presentations with my eyes wide open.  I bring a CMA that is fresh and as objective and true to the market as I can make it.

If the seller has inflated expectations we part friends.  At first I  was dismayed.  all my friends have tons of listings and I don't.

 Then I overheard a colleague say,  "Anyone can get listings its really easy"!   I thought well, ok you do have a half dozen, and I have none so I need to listen up here.

Tell the seller what he wants to hear, then have a pre-determined price drop campaign in the backup.,  Ready to drop those prices every 30 days or two weeks. A signed amendment you attach to the listing agreement.  

Wow, I thought, huh, wait, what about... all those buyers who may have wanted the house at the 90 day later price but since moved on and bought another one while my sellers house is on the market?   SO, they could have made an offer.

  Wait, what about those folks who didn't know this listing existed because it was above their price threshold?  Well.. they will see it when the price drops to their range.

 Wait, isn't that misleading my sellers?  Don't I have a duty to represent them in the fairest most honest way?  Sure you do and you are, you have pre determined price drops so they can realize and come to grips that their property is only going to sell at what you had suggested to begin with.

  Wait, wouldn't it be better if they got the home sold 90 days earlier by pricing it right in the beginning? Sure, but they don't want to and if you want the listing you will go with it.

  Wait, I don't want to play those reindeer games.  Ok, then suzie or timmy or jose or jacob or mary will take that listing and get those buyer phone calls.  Remember they are called LEADS.

  I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, I may be looking at the world thru rose colored glasses, but by jingo when I take a listing it is to $ELL THAT HOU$E.

Eeyore's Birthday Party — April 25

46th Annual Birthday Party

Saturday, April 25, 2009  PEASE PARK. 

note: no parking.  ride bus or bike or walk.
11:00 a.m. until dark.

Children's Area from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Austin TX USA

LIVE MUSIC from 12 noon to 7 p.m.  FREE ADMISSION.

Please wear a costume as there will be a costume party and other games with prizes for the children of all ages. Artists doing face painting and temporary tattoos.

 Benefits nonprofit groups in Austin. Pease Park, 1100 Kingsbury St. 448-5160, www.eeyores.sexton.com. sponsored by  
the Friends of the Forest Foundation.

Every year in Austin we have a Eeyore's Birthday Party, its open to the public and the proceeds are donated to local charities. Last year here are some of the benefitting groups:

Local Non Profit groups.

>

 Storytelling, snake handlers, petting zoo, crafts, music and food vendors. Downtown Bastrop. (512) 321-2557, ext. 15, www.bastropdba.org.

Now this is a festival.  Yesterfest.  Celebrating Bastrop Texas.   177 Years!  This year there is expected to be 35 gunfighters and saloon gals galore and costumed Indians who will be dancing for rain (which we do need).  The Texas Rangers will appear and a cowgirl teaching real rope tricks.

Sponsored by the Downtown Business Alliance and the Bastrop Opera House this event is expected to gather over 8,000 participants and revelry goers.

From 9am to 5pm the fun will be non stop with all sorts of music, food and frolicing good times, music will include Celtic, R&B, Mariachis and the standard Country & Western plus toss in some German OOMMHPA for more good times.

Come out to Bastrop on the 25th of April and enjoy yourself.  Take 71 from Austin to Bastrop and head toward Downtown you will find lots of fun for the whole family, experience the Old Wild West at Yesterfest.

If you are thinking of selling your home or purchasing a new home please give me a call.  I work throughout the Austin Texas area and would be happy to HELP YOU.

It's a clean slate, a new day, a new beginning.   All those and more are the reasons I love MONDAYS.

I know that Monday typically has a bad rap...  blue Monday, they are dreaded, uhhggs, crawling out of bed, fraught with worry of what needs to be done and has to be done and didn't get done last week, all the carry overs from last week, last month, last year, a past lifetime come creeping in at you on Monday morning.

To me, I see Monday differently, I get up eager, almost starry eyed, filled with I AM WOMAN! (beg pardon here TLW) hear me ROAR!   I see Monday as the start to a new day, a new week, a new month, hey, my whole new life... if that's what I want!  I am unstoppable, I am not yet techno challenged, I am not frazzled from minor nitpicky stuff like my curling iron quit me after 20 years, I am ready for the week.  NOTHING HAS GONE WRONG, yet.

Yes, I LOVE MONDAYS, because so far, my world is PERFECT, if only for a few minutes.  I try to drag that out for several hours and often succeed until about Wednesday.  Hey, I can remember when I first put on my MONDAY IS FABULOUS suit I could almost make it until lunchtime.   I am all about trying and trying again, so I am trying to get to FRIDAY, then thru the weekend and  oneday, I will be in the absolutely fabulous mode and have the PeRfect Week... Monday to Monday.  WOW, what a dream!

(for all you wondering, this is my drearm, my fantasy, my story and I'm sticking to it!)  Now ya'll go have a great Monday!