Archive for July, 2009
Home Energy Audits Now Mandatory
Monday, July 20th, 2009
Homeowners looking to sell their home now face an additional step and cost due to energy audits required by the City of Austin, but it could save homebuyers on utility costs in the long run.
The Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure Ordinance was approved by Austin City Council in November 2008 and was enacted June 1. Austin is the first city in the U.S. to require an energy audit during the selling process.
Of the first 400 audits performed, nearly 90 percent of homes needed both additional attic insulation and duct repair to be considered “acceptable” by the city’s standards.
Tags: audits, Energy, Mandatory
Posted in Buyer & Seller Tips, In The News | No Comments »
Central Texas Agencies Develop Long-Range Transporation Vision
Saturday, July 18th, 2009
Friday, 01 May 2009
New plans aim to create more transit options, reduce traffic congestion as region’s population continues to grow
Central Texas transportation agencies are adjusting their long-range planning strategies this year to reflect the needs of a region that has been reshaped by rapid growth and accelerated economic development. As Austin and its surrounding communities have become increasingly interconnected over the last decade, agency leaders are working to create systems that will enhance urban mobility and support an emergent commuter population. Click Here To Read More. . .
Tags: central texas, Growth, strategy, trasportation
Posted in Development, In The News, Transit | No Comments »
Austin Makes Another ‘Green Cities’ List
Thursday, July 16th, 2009
Environmental news and information group The Mother Nature Network has named Austin as one of the nation’s 10 greenest cities.
The network praised the city of Austin’s Climate Protection Program, a plan to go carbon-neutral by 2020; and the city’s electric utility Austin Energy, the nation’s largest provider of renewable energy, among its reasons for naming Austin a leader in green. Click Here For More . . .
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Downtown Austin Leaders Plan For Massive Growth
Monday, July 13th, 2009
Austin city leaders are grappling with the future of downtown Austin. On Monday, the City of Austin will present revisions to the Downtown Austin Plan, which will include affordable housing and density bonus reports.
City leaders created the plan to deal with the growth in Austin, especially downtown. The population growth is more than three times the national average, construction cranes are now a part of the Austin skyline and and right now, more than 7 million square feet of development is under construction. The city projects the new development will draw in more than 8,000 new residents.
Tags: Austin, Downtown, Growth, Transit
Posted in In The News | No Comments »
Austin Area Job Growth Holds Up
Tuesday, July 7th, 2009
AUSTIN JOB GROWTH
By Tim Eaton
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Saturday, June 20, 2009
The Austin area continued to add jobs in May, the only large Texas metropolitan area that has done so for the fourth month in a row.
The Austin-Round Rock area gained jobs at a 0.5 percent rate last month compared to a year earlier, the Texas Workforce Commission reported. That translates to 4,200 jobs, bringing the region’s job count to 781,400.
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10 reasons buying makes sense. . .NOW!
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009
1. Supply
- Plenty of new and resale Austin home inventory exists in every area and at all price ranges. This of course allows buyers to select the qualities they want in a home. Not long ago buyers were jumping on new listings as soon as they came onto the market; that’s no longer the case.
2. Buyer’s Market
- As scary as a “bad market” might seem, the best time to buy is when most people want to sell. If you buy now you can get a lot more house for your money, and you have a lot more negotiating power.
3. Affordability
- Even Austin had a housing bubble but the good news is that prices have returned to earth. That’s especially good news for first-time home buyers who were priced out of the market several years ago.
4. Low Mortgage Rates
- Mortgage interest rates are at their lowest point in a lifetime. It is smart to take advantage of the low mortgage rates while they are still available. Many economists are predicting inflation and higher interest rates
5. Government Tax Savings and Credits
- A home is one of the best ways to save money on taxes. Your mortgage interest real estate taxes and in many cases mortgage insurance is all tax deductible. Furthermore, the federal government is offering a one-time $8,000 credit, payable within weeks of closing, to those qualifying buyers who purchase in 2009.
6. Appreciation
- Although this might seem to be a strange reason to mention buying now with prices that are flat or even dropping in some areas, but in the long run, home prices have always recovered and properties have appreciated. Even the most pessimistic real estate market experts are bullish in the long run.
7. Equity
- Paying principal in your mortgage builds equity in your home over time which is ultimately a form of diverted savings.
8. Strengthening Rents
- With rents increasing as many stay out of the housing market, you can cap your monthly payment in the coming years with a fixed mortgage.
9. Sellers Willing To Make Homes Turnkey
- In this market, sellers will make system and aesthetic upgrades requested by the buyer to differentiate themselves. As a buyer, life is much easier to move into a home with no outstanding projects.
10. Additional Motivation, Non Real Estate Assets
- In this market you may successfully ask the seller to convey items such as their washing machine, refrigerator, pool table, etc. with the home.
Posted in Buyer & Seller Tips | No Comments »