Unbelievably Low Price for Spacious 1-Story

Immaculate Single Story in Sendero Springs

Minutes to Dell Children's, UT, & DT Austin for Only $165,000

Welcome to the first video in the series, "Seller Secrets". If you or someone you know has considered selling a home in today's market, these videos will offer some invaluable advice to help you net the most money in the shortest amount of time. For a free pricing analysis on your home, visit my website: http://www.sellingaustintxhomes.com/sell and please feel free to call me with any questions!

Seller Secrets: How Buyers Search for Homes

Think Big Work Small: Pin the Tail on the Real Estate Donkey

Rents in Denver are at a 10-year high and went up over 4.5% over the last year, which is the largest 1-year increase since 2001. OK, we're in Texas, so why should you care about what's going on in Denver? Well, if you don't remember what was happening to home values in 2002, check out the video below to get a look into the future, or maybe it's the past. Well, changes in the real estate market happen in cycles, so history will repeat itself, and you can reap the benefits if you play it smart.

The Ten Biggest Mistakes Buyers Make When Buying a New Home

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Buying Too Much House

It is important to be able to enjoy your new home. One of the biggest blunders that inexperienced or overzealous buyers make is to jump right in and get way too much house. How much is too much?  If your mortgage is going to burn a hole in your income more than 35%, then it’s time to reconsider. Make sure you can afford to pay recurring expenses while leaving some room to breathe in the process. Just because you may have prequalified for a certain amount does not mean you can “afford” that much house.

Skipping a Home Inspection

We have all seen the horror stories broadcast across home television networks – so much so that there are teams of people trying to educate homebuyers on the importance of a home inspection. What can you stand to lose by skipping the inspection?  Anything from faulty structure to chemical exposure or pest infestation or more – can set you back thousands or tens of thousands. Better to be safe and spend a few hundred dollars than to be sorry.

Not Getting Everything in Writing

Just because a seller said you would get to keep the swings set does not necessarily mean you will get it – unless you have it in writing. Too many buyers fail to get things put into a formal contract. In fact, many brokers and agents have specific forms to avoid just that. Make sure every agreed upon item is formally written down, signed by both parties and includes any necessary details.

Not Doing Homework

You can never have too much information when buying a house. In fact, knowing as much as possible about the property, its history, surroundings, neighborhood and community are instrumental in making the right decision. Another important thing to know is current local market conditions. What are other homes in the area selling for?  What is the life of the average property in the neighborhood?  Are prices stable and is it a sellers’ market or buyer-controlled?  A quality, experienced Realtor will help you find out all this and more relevant information – key to finding the perfect home.

Buying the Most Expensive House in the Neighborhood

Even though it may seem like a good purchase – buying the most expensive home on the block is not the best move to make. No matter what you think your long term intentions are for the home, just the chance that you may want to sell in the future is enough to forego buying the priciest home in the neighborhood. Consider this: if you do end up moving, sellers will be turned off by the most expensive price tag making it harder to sell. Not only that, the home’s value is also dependent on other homes in the area – something that could backfire eventually.

Moving Too Quickly

Since buying a home is the largest financial transaction in most people’s lives, it is important for them to pace themselves. Hastily acting on the first home you see will limit you from countless options. While there should be a reasonable limit – it’s a good idea to see more homes than fewer. If you have a list of must-have items, try to achieve all or most of them in your search. You can’t do that if you jump at the first home and sign the dotted line too quickly.

Buying a Misfit House

A lot of buyers are wooed by the lifestyle and living arrangements of the homes as displayed by sellers. Once they move in, they realize things like the oversized lawn is way too much work or that the high-end finishes are too much to maintain with their young family. It is essential to keep your lifestyle in mind when searching for your next home. The last thing you need is to regret or feel buyer’s remorse when it’s too late.

Forgetting to Zoom Out

Many buyers are enticed by the number of rooms a home has, a high-end kitchen or the home’s spaciousness, without considering other aspects of living there. When they have moved in and realize their next-door neighbor runs a daycare or the nearest grocery store is twenty minutes away – they regret it. Remember to research the surroundings in the area to make sure that it’s still your dream home even after zooming out of just the house itself.

Failing to Protect Themselves

There is a reason for contingencies in an offer and without them things can get messy. When buyers neglect to outline the terms or if they choose to waive some important contingencies in the interest of securing the home, they are taking a huge risk. Common contingencies not to forego are the right to a home inspection prior to sale with the sale dependent on inspection results or availability of financing or setting a move-in date that coincides with the sale of the buyer’s previous home.

Foregoing Prequalification and Preapproval

Driving around and looking for a good home is fine but when it comes time to getting serious about the sale, unless you are prequalified and preapproved, you could easily get the short end of the stick. Buyers that don’t pay much attention to this important buying strategy actually end up losing their dream homes because the seller chose to accept the offer from someone that did this important step. Prequalification allows you to know your budget range according to the lenders’ calculations made based on your income, etc. A preapproval is a written statement from your bank saying that you have been preapproved for a loan. Sellers prefer offers that come with both, especially in today’s housing industry with savvy homeowners and buyers.
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Do you want to make sure everything you’re doing is spot on?  Call or visit us today so we can review your options, help you determine what your perfect home is and introduce you to your new home!

10 Ways to Increase the Value of Your Home

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Siding and Exterior Paint

One of the fastest ways to make a better first impression with buyers is to paint the exterior of the home and, if needed, to replace the siding. A fresh coat of paint will freshen up the exterior and modernize the appearance. Just be sure to use colors that will appeal to the largest number of buyers (sherbet orange is probably not a good choice). To experiment with different colors and schemes, try using virtual painting
programs available at many paint manufacturing websites like Benjamin Moore Paints.

Windows and Doors

By replacing old windows and doors with stylish and efficient alternatives, you may be able to attract buyers who may otherwise pass on your home only because it is a little more mature than its competitors. Although the choices can seem endless, by carefully reviewing the homes that are actually selling, you should be able to narrow down your choices. Also be sure to keep your proof of purchase for tax reasons.

Landscaping

Investing in new sod, rock, shrubbery, and trees can turn a tired looking front yard into an inviting space literally overnight. If you don't have a green thumb, check out landscaping.com for ideas. In addition, consider how your home looks when many buyers are still cruising the streets. Installing new lighting fixtures can both enhance the home's ambiance at night and modernize the exterior during the daylight hours.

Flooring

Your home's floors need to be clean, modern, and stylish. They should tie the home together and flow seamlessly from one room to the next. So how can you be sure you don't pick a carpet or floor covering that
buyers will hate? Ask for advice from your Realtor because the work with buyer's so they would know what flooring today's buyers want in a given neighborhood.

Kitchens

If your kitchen needs a face lift, consider updating the cabinets and countertops as well as the plumbing fixtures. However keep in mind that your home only has to be comparable to your neighbors' homes - it doesn't necessarily have to surpass them. For instance, purchasing granite counters may not impress value shoppers and may turn them off if they believe they will have to pay more for the home because of the higher cost. Want ideas on kitchen designs that will impress a buyer? Check out HGTV for inspiration.

Bathrooms

Let's face it, we all spend a lot of time in the bathroom. So it's no wonder buyers want their new bathrooms to be user friendly. New toilets, tubs, and cabinetry can be a big investment, but small projects like cleaning or replacing tile grout, re-caulking, and repainting can make old bathrooms sparkle. Pay special attention to the little things like chipped sinks and tubs, exhaust fans that may need cleaning, and dated light fixtures. For ideas and design tips visit KitchenBathIdeas.

Lighting

If swag lamps are still hanging in your living room, it may be time to update your home's lighting scheme. A well lit home can accent the best features of each room and provide buyers with a classic case of the warm fuzzies. For instance, under-cabinet lighting in the kitchen can show off a unique view of the counters, while canned lighting in the living room can be used to highlight décor and design elements that might be missed otherwise.

Interior Painting

Look inside almost any model home and you will quickly find that white is out and color is in. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean you can grab the nearest color wheel and paint brush and go to town. Colors still need to match each other and blend in with the décor of the home. Try to use accent walls to punch up the impact of your colors and visit local design centers and speak with your Realtor for more ideas.

Roof and Foundation Systems

To ensure that you receive top dollar for your home and avoid a deal breaking inspection report, now may be the time to get these areas of your home in order. Lenders often want to know that a roof will last at least another 3-5 years and that the foundation is keeping the entire home off the ground without any apparent failures.

Deep Cleaning & Decluttering

The least expensive thing any seller can do before marketing their home is perform a deep cleaning of every surface in the home. A bucket, some soap and water, and a few rags can transform nearly any home into a show-ready model home. But don't skimp. You need to dig in and get dirty, and yes, that means you have to clean under the stove and refrigerator. You're moving so start packing all non-essential items. Buyers need to envision their furniture in the home and they don't need to be focusing on your pictures and nick-nacks. Not sure how to start? Visit The Housekeeping Channel for guidance.

Overwhelmed? Don't be. Pick one or two items on this list that fits your budget and jump in. Work your way down the list, and you will know that you have made every attempt to put your home in the best position possible to impress a buyer.