Educating Sellers the importance of staging Listing agents know educating sellers the importance of a well staged home will receive the best offers, setting high expectations for a buyer’s. Staging a home will set the mood for buyer’s first impressions appealing to good or bad feelings. Selling a home or buying a home involves emotional factors. Homeowners want to sell their homes but also have an emotional attachment and want to live in them and that’s where emotions will need to be shelved while the home is active on the market. Recommending a third party “home stagger” can be effective in offering advice to homeowners to declutter, depersonalize, lighting and other décor suggestions. Educating Sellers the importance of staging homes interior and exterior will appeal to the houses tar... 10/29/2014

                                  Learn more about 1202 Andrew Cv and other Cedar Park Homes or call 512-342-8744 for more info. NEIGHBORHOOD: Buttercup CreekSTORIES: 2BEDROOMS: 5BATHS: 4.5SQAURE FEET: 3732 (per tax record)YEAR BUILT: 2002GARAGE SPACES: 3Four sides brick, 5 bedroom home has 3 living areas, 2 dining, 5 baths, 3 car garage, huge backyard backs to greenbelt, room for boat or RV behind fence, two large covered porches, large kitchen w/island, utility room. Master down with very large master bath. Walk-in closets.Walk-in attic, and other attic storage. Large windows across the back. Fireplace is wood burning with an option to add gas logs. You'll love the open floor plan. 10/27/2014

CRS Designation   I've read blog post from other agents here in the RAIN who don't care for the initials after a REALTOR'S® title, but I like them regardless of those who don't and I become a better agent to serve my clients and profession. Today I will attend my second CRS class at the Austin Board of REALTORS®   The Council of Residential Specialists is the largest not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS® -- a professional network of over 30,000 residential real estate professionals in the U.S. and overseas, with one common goal in mind…our success.   Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) agents have proven record of success—3X success, in fact. Compared to the average REALTOR®, CRS agents have been in the business nearly three times longer, have three times ... 10/26/2014

The Pros & Cons of Swimming Pool Ownership   When we built our swimming pool sixteen years ago we didn’t give any consideration to the pros and cons of building one.  Many homeowners love swimming and swimming pools, but deciding whether or not to have one requires serious consideration.   Safety and liability issues and ongoing maintenance expenses need to be considered when evaluating the pros and cons of pool ownership. Below are just a few points to consider before “plunging” into your pool.   Pros of Pool Ownership: Provides fun and enjoyment for the owner, family and friends. Offers  a cool relaxing entertaining environment for special occasions. Allows for exercise, sunbathing, and pool games and parties. Enhances backyard landscaping as a tropical paradise. Myths that pool value... 10/23/2014

Buttercup Creek Neighborhood of Cedar Park TX 78613 & Market update 10/22/2014 Buttercup Creek Neighborhood located in Cedar Park TX 78613 is a community of single family homes condo’s and townhomes located just northwest of Austin offering a unique master-planned community featuring award-winning, energy-efficient homes with recreational parks, pools, green-belts and trails meandering throughout the neighborhoods. Buttercup Creek Neighborhood is located in West Cedar Park and it’s boundaries are from Park Street (North), Cypress Creek Road (South), S Bell Blvd (East), and S Lakeline Blvd (west and east). Major hospital less than 4 minutes from the neighborhood. Lakeline shopping mall, 1890 Ranch Shopping and Round Rock Outlets, Domain and many other shopping centers close by, other pla... 10/22/2014

Adopt a Park in Cedar Park TX 78613 Residents and non-resident around  Cedar Park can contribute to the quality of life by taking pride in keeping some forty six parks preserved. Adopting a park gives one a sense of pride helping to keep trails cleared, streams clean, removing graffiti and waste, planting trees and having organizations fund equipment etc.   Adopt a Park in Cedar Park TX is open to community groups, civic organizations, churches, businesses, families, and individual citizens. Park sites or trail sections are given out on a first-come, first served basis. What are the benefits in being an Adopt-a-Park Volunteer? Help beautify our parks and community.   Gain a sense of community and park pride Help preserve our natural resources Meet new people Contribute to the “Quality o... 10/22/2014

  Have you joined Nextdoor yet?  It’s the free private social network just for your neighborhood.  They require validation that you actually live in the neighborhood to give you some peace of mind about sharing your info.    Why do you need another social network?  It’s a great way to communicate with your neighbors about lost dogs, referrals, yard sales, HOA issues, etc.  Most importantly, it can facilitate discussions about what is going on in the neighborhood and create community awareness.  A community that works together is one of strength.  A lot of buyers I work with want a community… not just a house.  It all starts with knowing your neighbors name.  But… even if that’s not enough to convince you... do it for Halloween!  Halloween in Central Texas is the perfect time to get out,... 10/22/2014

Better known in Central Texas as LISD, the Leander Independent School District serves over 34,000 students.  Those new to Central Texas sometimes mistaken Leander ISD as only serving Leander. The boundary lines actually include areas in North West Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, Georgetown and Volente.   School districts can be a bit confusing to those new to the area.  My first house in Texas was in Round Rock.  We lived in Round Rock, school was in Austin and Leander was the district; all were in Williamson County.  I now live in Cedar Park, kids schools are in Cedar Park, Leander is the district, schools are Williamson County and our home is in Travis County.  Whew!   You may be wondering why does this matter? If schools are part of your home search it will matter!  I recent... 10/20/2014

Condos & Townhomes for sale in Cedar Park, TX 78613   Cedar Park condominiums and Cedar Park Townhomes make an affordable alternative to purchasing a single-family home. Cedar Park single family home prices continue to rise giving buyers more options of purchasing a lower-priced condo or townhome allowing home ownership.   What is the difference in owning a condo or townhome compared to owning a house? While the price may be lower for a condo or townhome there will be other fees such as association-restrictions fees.   Condos & Townhomes for sale in Cedar Park, TX 78613 currently have 29 active listings on the Multiple Listing Service. Prices range from $179,000 - $343,575 with square feet staring around 1,300+ to 2,487 square feet,  two bedroom and three bedroom units all with garages.... 10/18/2014

Cedar Park Home For Sale David Weekly one story with great rooms featuring floor to ceiling windows, fireplace with built ins open to kitchen and casual dining! Private owner's retreat with garden tub,double vanities and shower. Flex room between secondary bedrooms could be game or media area! Spacious study with French doors, and formal dining area. Features include recent quartz counters/Frigidaire convection double over/microwave and dishwasher/tile in baths/paint and more!Low maintenance backyard with large patio!   To find out more about this lovely Cedar Park listing click on Photo below Cedar Park Neighborhoods began to pop up in the early 1950’s & 1960’s due to the growth of nearby Austin TX. Cedar Park was incorporated on February 24, 1973, by the citizen and today’s population... 10/17/2014

Cedar Park Homes For Sale Cedar Park offering spectacular canyon View home in Cypress Canyon. Home has front porch and second story front porch off master. Formal dining room, family room w/fireplace. Gorgeous, spacious kitchen w/ island, bar & breakfast area, granite counters, tile backsplash, walk-in pantry, stainless steel appliances, recessed lighting. Huge game room up with lot of built-in cabinets, perfect for entertaining. Large landscaped backyard w/stone patio partially covered and 2 community pools, walking paths, park.  Click on Photo to find out more about this lovely property for sale Cedar Park is one of the fastest growing suburbs in North Austin and is considered part of the Austin Metropolitan area. If you or someone you know is considering buying are selling in Cedar P... 10/17/2014

Cedar Park TX annual Halloween in the Hall event on Friday, October 31, 2014, from 3-5 p.m. at Cedar Park City Hall, 450 Cypress Creek Road, Buildings 1-3!  Costumes are welcome and encouraged!     Cedar Park has grown by more than 400 percent in the last decade, and is now ranked by the U.S. Census Bureau as the Fourth Fastest-growing City in the Country. It’s no wonder why more people are choosing to call Cedar Park “home” for their families and businesses.  Cedar Park Halloween in the Hall is brought to you by Bob Ratliff, Cedar Park REALTOR® 10/16/2014

Advertising new listings and not putting them on the MLS. What is the risk?   When real estate markets become "HOT" and multiple offers are common practice as here in Austin many REALTOR'S® will advertise new listings as "coming soon" prior to listing on the MLS. Many of these homes are escrowed immediately and never find their way to a multiple listings service.   There is nothing wrong with this practice as long as the Seller has agreed in writing according to the listing agreement. Sellers may not want their home listed in the multiple listing service for personal, privacy or safety reasons. REALOTR'S® would be smart to document all conversations with their Seller and get sellers signature.    Listings agent's who withhold a listing from the MLS without the sellers consent would be i... 10/15/2014

Bella Vista and Twin Creeks Annexation Hearing with city of Cedar Park TX 78613 The Bella Vista and Twin Creeks subdivisions are located south of Cedar Park bordering the city limits of Austin TX. In September residents signed petitions in support of a full annexation by the city of Cedar Park; the annexation would bring to the subdivisions city services such as fire and police protection. Residents would pay a new monthly utility debt service fee and city property taxes instead of taxes to their original districts—Twin Creeks has two water control improvement districts, or WCIDs, and Bella Vista is within its own municipal utility district, or MUD. Bella Vista and Twin Creeks Annexation Hearing with city of Cedar Park TX 78613 has three districts which have presented petitions with at ... 10/14/2014

Happy Columbus Day! "In fourteen hundred ninety-two/ Columbus sailed the ocean blue”. Many countries in the New World and elsewhere celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus arrival in the Americas, which happened on October 12, 1492, as a holiday or official celebration. (Information Courtesy of Wikipedia)     Even though it’s a holiday for most schools and businesses and many will enjoy a day off, know that I work most holidays and here to serve your Cedar Park and Leander real estate wants and needs. Call Bob Ratliff 512-587-5689 10/13/2014

Cedar Park foreclosures are far and few but buyers can still find them in the 78613 zip code There are many factors to consider when buying a foreclosed home compared to a traditional home purchase. Foreclosures are an affordable housing option, but there are also more things to watch for with this type of home purchase. Usually a foreclosure is sold "as is". If our buyer decides a foreclosure is for them and they would like to move forward, we have them get pre-qualified giving our buyers the advantage of being better prepared to make an offer and to have it accepted. Foreclosures in Cedar Park TX 78613 Oct. 12th, 2014 market update below: Currently Foreclosures in Cedar Park TX 78613 consist of five active listings priced from $165,900 to $359,900 with 1,300 to 3,088 square feet. Curr... 10/12/2014

Moving to Texas and learning the "Texas Twang"! What makes a "Texas accent" stand apart somewhat from the rest of the South, is the "confluence of its influences". The most basic explanation of a Texas accent is that it's a Southern accent with a twist. Welcome to Texas, y’all!  (All) y’all = you Coke = any kind of soda "I’m fixin’ to do something", instead of about to. "This ain’t my first rodeo!" "I’m gonna go to the store later", instead of "I'm going. "right quick", instead of quickly "tuckered out", instead of exhausted.  Add syllables to words. Texans with a heavy accent don't use one-syllable words. To talk like a Texan, practice elongating all one-syllable words into two syllables. The word "big" is pronounced, "bee-yug." The word "pen" is said, "pee-yun." The word "cat" is said... 10/11/2014

Experience Cedar Park Center located in Cedar Park TX 78613  Cedar Park Center is a premier state of the art sports and entertainment venue and hosts a variety of concert and sporting events including renowned entertainment attractions such as George Strait, Cirque Du Soleil, George Lopez, Alan Jackson, Disney on Ice, Tool, and Jason Aldean just to name a few. Cedar Park Center construction began in 2008, at a cost of $55 million, and the new arena was officially opened in September 2009.  The building's first event took place on September 25, 2009, featuring country music artist George Strait. The city of Cedar Park owns the event center, and has partnered with Dallas-based Hicks Sports Marketing to develop an adjacent tract into an 182,000 SF retail and office complex. Their affiliate... 10/11/2014

Neighborhood Watch Programs bring together citizens and Law Enforcement Neighborhood Watch programs bring together effective crime prevention for its citizens and law enforcement to deter criminal activities making communities safer. Neighborhood Watch programs have been around since the 1960’s and longer however the National Neighborhood Watch was begun in 1972 with funding in part by the National Sheriffs Association, through a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance. Forming a neighborhood watch program empowers its citizens to become active in their communities. Crime Watch programs take many forms, but in all cases, organization by blocks is the cornerstone of all neighborhood crime prevention programs. Neighborhood Watch operates under two principles. When neighbors get to kno... 10/10/2014

What is a C.L.U.E. Report? (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) In real estate we often hear the word “clue report”, and below is a description of  a clue report and how it’s used in closing homes. C.L.U.E. (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) The word clue definition is something that guides through an intricate procedure or maze of difficulties; a piece of evidence that leads one toward the solution of a problem; something that severs to guide or direct in the solution of a problem or mystery. C.L.U.E-Home Seller's Disclosure Reports provide a five year insurance loss history for a given address, without divulging personal and private information about a property owner. Property owners should know there's a report that includes detailed information about the losses and ins... 10/10/2014