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Austin, TX Real Estate News

By Julie Nelson, Smart real estate.
(eXp Realty)
Repair Chronicle # 3: Refinishing Wood Floors Q1. What was the scope of your project? The carpet in our home was getting old and worn out so we decided to tear it up and replace it with new carpet. When we ripped the carpet up we discovered that the original floors were hard wood floors. It didn't take long to know why the carpet was put down because the original flooring was worn, stained and scratched up pretty bad. Still the thought of having hard wood floors was very appealing so we decided to refinish the wood floors. Q2. What was the general budget (initial)? Since our original plan was to re-carpet our home we had about $5,000.00 put back for this project. Q3. How close did you land on budget? The money we had put back for carpet was enough to cover the expense of refinishing the...
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By Garreth Wilcock, Sherlock Homes Frisco
(Sherlock Homes Frisco)
You may have heard that the new urban village at Mueller Austin has denser housing with smaller yards but here’s a twist. The Lake Park at Mueller was officially opened [Nov. 12, 2008] bringing the total open public green space to 75 acres. With only 300 households resident at Mueller, we residents now enjoy 0.25 acres of green space each! Read on to learn more about the green spaces at Mueller Austin . . . Garreth Wilcock is a REALTOR® residing in Mueller Austin. Browse homes at Mueller or find out about his Mueller Move Up program, or cost saving representation for Mueller buyers.
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By Garreth Wilcock, Sherlock Homes Frisco
(Sherlock Homes Frisco)
Austin scores well on top 10 lists of greenest US cities, sometimes described as the ray of sunshine in the field of oil pumps. Green Neighbor is one of the City of Austin’s many green programs that were showcased at the Mueller Greenfest on Saturday. The challenge is to protect and improve Austin’s environmental resources, and the program is in the form of a game. The idea is to adopt earthwise practices and make them a habit. Each time you do so, you earn credits- 75 credits earns a prize and the reputation as a green neighbor. Read on to learn more about the Green Neighbor program . . . Garreth Wilcock is a Keller Williams REALTOR® in Austin. Browse homes at Mueller or find out about his Mueller Move Up program, or cost saving representation for Mueller buyers.
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By Garreth Wilcock, Sherlock Homes Frisco
(Sherlock Homes Frisco)
What happens if you have a home to sell but you want to build a new home? A contingency clause is your friend. I’ll explain how you might buy a “to be built” home at Mueller Austin as an example. Who wants what? You want to have a new home built in Mueller but you have a home to sell. You don’t want to have two mortgages, a bridge loan, or to own two homes, but you also don’t want to be homeless. Read more to find out how you can build a new home while selling your old home . . . Garreth Wilcock is a Realtor® residing in Mueller Austin. He specializes in Central and East Austin Real Estate. He has a Mueller Move Up program which saves money for buyers when they sell their home to move to Mueller.
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By Garreth Wilcock, Sherlock Homes Frisco
(Sherlock Homes Frisco)
Homes in Mueller Austin will be under construction for years to come. In this third part of my selling at Mueller series, I look at seven winning strategies that you can use to sell your home, and beat the builders. In Part I, I looked at the Mueller build timeline, and in Part II I discussed the challenges of competing with active builders at Mueller. Read on to discover how to sell your home at Mueller . . . Garreth Wilcock is a Realtor® residing in Mueller Austin. He specializes in Central and East Austin Real Estate. Find out how he sells homes at Mueller.
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By Betina Foreman, Realtor, C.N.E., with WJK REALTY
(WJK Realty)
Some people love public schools and others prefer a private school for their children. I went to both public and private schools and somehow survived both. Since there are so many private schools in Austin, I thought I would make it easy on you by listing them here. I have included the phone numbers in case you want more detailed information from a specific school. The tuition fees are for 2008-2009 school year. Austin's Private Schools All Saints Episcopal - 29 West 27th, 78705  512-472-8866 Grades PK-K Tuition $3200-6800 Austin Jewish Academy- 7300 Hart Lane, 78731 512-735-8350 K- 8th Tuition $12,600 Austin Montessori - 5006 Sunset Trail, 78745  512-892-0253  PK-9th  Tuition $6900-8400 Austin Waldorf School- 8700 South View Rd., 78737 512-288-5942 K-12th Tuition $7427-12,063 Bannockbu...
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By Stephanie Zellous (512) 971-4875, Stephanie Zellous
(Keller Williams Realty)
The East Austin Studio Tour is an open house for participating art galleries located east of IH 35 in Austin, TX. This free event gives you the opportunity to view the work of some of Austin's finest artists with pieces ranging from paintings to jewelry. I have inserted a link to the official booklet, but if you find one around town be sure to pick it up. If you happen to see me be sure to say Hi! East Austin Studio Tour Guide.
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By Robin Scott, Broker, REALTOR® - Austin Texas
(Robin Scott, REALTOR®)
Condominiums can provide a low maintenance lifestyle and there are pros and cons to any property purchase decision. Below are some things to consider. CONS: Reserve funds and association fees - There are usually homeowners association fees associated with a condo that must be considered when a budget for the monthly mortgage payment is determined. The condo association takes responsibility for maintenance of the common grounds, area amenities and exterior maintenance like roofs, exterior doors and siding. Some times a special assessment must be levied because of an unexpected expense that the available funds wouldn't cover. Condo rules - When you purchase a condo you are purchasing a share in a corporation providing you with a vote but you must comply with the condo rules. Be sure you ...
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By Betina Foreman, Realtor, C.N.E., with WJK REALTY
(WJK Realty)
People always ask me where the convicts are or where the prison is on Convict Hill. Lucky for the people who live in the neighborhood, there is no prison and the convicts are long gone. It was much different back in the 1880's the cost of labor was astronomical. Consider the going rate of .17 cents per hour to work in a quarry. Well some ingenious person decided that the prison was full of able bodied men who could provide "free" labor. So those prisoners were sent to the area now known as Convict Hill to work in the quarry. The prisoners were chained to thick iron bars each night and lived on a diet of coffee, cornbread and salt pork. There are claims that about a dozen of the prisoners died at the quarry site. However there is no record or proof to back up this tale. Many years later ...
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By Julie Nelson, Smart real estate.
(eXp Realty)
I wanted to share an educational moment with some general information and advice on online social networking and promoting your business online.  You may have heard of yelp.com but some other sites you may be familiar with (or not) may include Facebook, MySpace, Plaxo, yahoo groups and meetup.com.  For example, in yahoo groups, I am a member of a national Keller Williams group, a member of a Keller Williams faculty group; on meetup.com, I am a member of a labrador retriever group, a kayak group and a wordpress blog group. Did you know the average age of a user on Facebook is 35 while the average age on MySpace is 25? Here are some tips for you to keep in mind as you explore or assess your online options: · If you have children, you probably want to explore MySpace and Facebook on a some...
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By Betina Foreman, Realtor, C.N.E., with WJK REALTY
(WJK Realty)
This is the second installment of Austin Trivia. I hope you find it interesting and worth reading. A number of my past relocation clients have enjoyed a mini Texas history lesson while riding around looking at homes.Barton Creek is our topic today. The neighborhood was named after the creek. It was created by John Connelly and Ben Barnes under a partnership agreement in 1974. There was a conference center, country club, and golf course. In 1988 the partners went bankrupt and sold the development to Freeport McMoran incorporated. The Freeport McMoran CEO was Bob Moffett developed the 4,000 acre housing and commercial project. There was some outrage about the construction going over the Barton Creek Watershed, but it went through anyhow. The Barton Creek Planned Unit Development now inclu...
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By David Poisson
(Sky Realty)
I Just want to write a quick post about this fall season in my neighborhood that I love so much - Barton Hills in South Austin TX.  This fall I have seen some unusual wildlife in the 13 years I have now lived at my house.  I back up to the Barton Creek greenbelt, so there are always all types of critters around, but the latest and the greatest was having a wild turkey family in and around my house.  I first saw the tom turkey, who I think was accidentally treed by my German Shepherd, Zelda, who was chasing after a squirrel.  I was sitting up on my deck and I kept hearing this clucking noise and went to investigate and just about freaked out as this thing was casually sitting in one of my oak trees, grooming its feathers, and it was HUGE!!!!  I tried to get some photos but all my batteri...
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By Debbie Barrera, Your Austin Texas Connection
(REALTY AUSTIN-Austin, TX www.RealtyAustin.com)
Low gas prices are available right here in Austin, Texas! I noticed how much gas has gone down in price since my last post. In fact, most of the gas stations here in East Austin are under $2.00 a gallon. I filled up at my favorite place, Major Brand on Cesar Chavez and by paying with my debit card, it was 2 cents cheaper than advertised on the sign. I paid $1.92!! I did notice one sign in Houston on my drive back from the Madonna concert this past weekend (a future blog to come) and it was advertised at $1.87. Can you believe it? As a REALTOR who does lots of driving, I just have to say, Yippee!!! If you live and Austin and are paying over $2.00 for gas, you are getting ripped off! Visit www.AustinGasPrices.com to see the cheapest in your neighborhood. What is the cheapest you have paid...
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By Robin Scott, Broker, REALTOR® - Austin Texas
(Robin Scott, REALTOR®)
is that over time it appreciates in value. So when my daughters husband asked for a divorce I insisted she ask for the house. Everyone told me that since it was his house before they married, she couldn't have it. Why not. Just ask. Or just insist. After all, he wanted the divorce and he gave her the house. Now the sweet part is that it's right next door to me. OK, I know that sounds too close but we never interfered in their lives and after the divorce she moved on with her life. It's been about 5 years, she has had it leased and she recently married again and lives across town with her new husband. She still owns the house which is developing into a great nest egg for her future. It may provide business opportunities, college for the future kids or fund retirement. Here's another adva...
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By Robin Scott, Broker, REALTOR® - Austin Texas
(Robin Scott, REALTOR®)
If you want to sell your home, listen to your REALTOR®. You hired a REALTOR® because she is a professional who works in the real estate market every day and probably for years and therefore has more insight into a homes value and how to sell it than you. Don't tell your REALTOR® what your home is worth. Ask. Your REALTOR® can provide you with comparative market sales and information about what is happening in the market, what prospective buyers who tour your property will want and think. You may want more for your home than the REALTOR® suggests as a price but if you do want to sell then listen to the professional. Just because you want more doesn't give the buyer any reason to pay more. Statistics show that over pricing your home will not bring better offers. It will not put you in a b...
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By Jude Galligan
(Downtown Austin Blog)
Joshua Bingaman is an entrepreneur who really, truly, understands how to create a culture around his business.  Click above image for more details.  Quoting directly… “So on Thursday, November 20th, everything we brew, bake, heat or fix at Progress will be FREE. Gratis. Complimentary (with our compliments, of course). … “In return, all I ask is that you consider contributing whatever you can to Bread for the World and/or Capital Area Food Bank. Any amount (or no amount) is fine, whatever you’re comfortable with a penny, a buck, a hundred bucks- cash, credit, check or change Progress will take it and donate it all. And if you can’t or just don’t want to contribute, no worries—it’s certainly not a requirement (and nobody will look at you funny).” [Progress Coffee] by Downtown Austin Real...
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By Jerry Hunter
(AustinTexasDreamHomes.com)
Well, I just read a Report from the Real Estate Center at Texas A & M University. It shows how Texas is the best place in the US for Real Estate and Jobs. As a native, I am proud to see little Austin grow up into a Nationally known City. Of course, UT, put us on the map many years ago and if anyone forgot us, Vince Young changed that in 2005 by winning the National Championship. Now this year our young football team has had a great season and could end up #1 or 2 when it is all over. Austin's Employement Rate is above the US and Texas average. We have less than a 7 month Inventory of Unsold homes even though our inventory levels are up. Well, I gotta run. C U next time. Regards, Jerry
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By Julie Nelson, Smart real estate.
(eXp Realty)
When out looking to buy a new house both buyers and agents express feelings of apprehension to homes that are close to major roads or railroad tracks.  When looking at the data for homes that back to or are near a train track, they take longer to sell than others of the same size and interior finish-out further away.  This is real estate 101 ... location, location, locomotion.  The same can be said for houses that face or back to a major road.  Most of these homes will be priced below market and will take longer to sell.  But what about the impact of airplanes?  The potential of living under an airport's flight path is a possibility in most cities, but do buyers have the same apprehension to living under a flight path as they do to living near train tracks or major thoroughfares?  When ...
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By Julie Nelson, Smart real estate.
(eXp Realty)
REPAIR CHRONICLE #2:POPCORN CEILINGSJulie Nelson - NW Hills / Austin, TX - submitted 03/08 Q1. What was the scope of your project? [fix a leaky faucet, add a 2nd story]Scrape the ugly popcorn stuff off the ceiling of my office in my new 1970's house in the woods. Basically a very easy project, very little skill involved and I totally recommend bringing your house into the current century by scraping all popcorn off the ceiling BEFORE you move in and BEFORE you replace the carpet. Before we get too far, a note on the possibility of asbestos: popcorn ceilings may contain asbestos if the house was built or the popcorn was sprayed before 1978. You can have a sample tested at a lab. Back to the EASY ... all you do is get a ladder, a little water sprayer (plant sprayer, cheap) and with a fine...
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By Jude Galligan
(Downtown Austin Blog)
You might have seen this article recently.  It’s an interesting read.  Filled with quotes and bold statements.  You might have also seen my recent article about the actual number of dwellings in Downtown Austin.  As your loyal Downtown Austin Realtor (plug!), I thought I would dissect this article and give you the scoop from the trenches of Downtown Austin Real Estate. Downtown Austin is growing I’m going cut/paste a handful of quotes from the article, and then explain if that quote is, generally speaking, true or false.  Let’s begin… “If people are waiting for the crash to come and for people to give away condos downtown, it’s not going to happen,” Spring developer, Perry Lorenz True.  Perry is right about this.  The sky is not falling as some local papers would have you believe (coug...
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