Bill Morris Realtor

Several major banks have announced that they are stopping new foreclosures while they verify the supporting paperwork.  I am absolutely behind them getting this right.  There is no doubt that with the acquisition and consolidation of mortgage lenders and mortgage portfolios over the past several ...

As a happy and proud long-time Austinite, I'm always drawn to news stories about our great city.  As I real estate professional, I am especially interested in articles and lists that compare Austin to other areas.  The Wall Street Journal recently had an article about a "housing stress indicator"...

This is a great post about a very important day in the home-buying process.  The inspection can be nerve-wracking for both buyer and seller, but it is the buyer's day!  After the buyer receives the complete inspection report and requests specific repairs -- that's the time for the seller to respo...

It has been a busy week, so I have not been keeping up with this site like I should.  I do want to offer some brief comments, however, about a couple of articles I just posted to AustinMarketInfo.com: Foreclosure Activity Increases 4% in August 2010 Austin's foreclosure rate rises First, an impor...

I wrote several days ago about the effects of two rounds of homebuyer tax credits:  how much they distorted seasonal demand, and how difficult it is now to predict how long the post-incentive lull will last: Tax Credits End, Sales Slow Down -- Surprised? Today, an article from the Los Angeles Tim...

Quality homes in the Austin area are tough to find for less than $125,000.  Here's one you should check out: 709 Orchard Street In an Austin-area market where inventories have grown some in the past few months, this market segment has only about a three-month supply.  Come see this cute little ho...

Everybody who has been paying attention knows that credit scores have become much more important than they were just a couple of years ago. They affect everything from qualifying for a mortgage loan or a car loan, and what interest rate you'll pay for those loans, to how much you pay for car insu...

The National Association of Realtors® reported recently that sales of existing home sales were down in July, following the expiration of the latest round of homebuyer tax incentives. I commented then (No incentives, slower sales? No kidding!) that Austin and Central Texas matched the national tre...

There has been a lot of news lately about the housing market and about the U.S. economy in general that should be of concern to anybody who considers him or herself a realist.  I have written for a very long time about the strength of the Austin/Central Texas economy, about our employment picture...

As expected, the homebuyer tax credits have affected sales over the past year chiefly near and below the median market price.  Not only were those properties the most likely targets for first-time home buyers, but an $8,000 "rebate" is worth twice as much, percentage-wise, on a $160,000 purchase ...