The Costs of Buying a House

Besides the final purchase price of your new house, you'll have to consider the costs associated with setting up and moving in. Buying a house with a realty company includes such expenses as:

• Deposit
• Down Payment
• Mortgage Loan Insurance
• Real Estate Transfer Taxes
• Home Appraisal and Inspection
• Homeowner's Insurance
• Legal Fees
• Moving Expenses
• Utilities Connections

Some of these expenses can be added to your mortgage or negotiated out of the purchase price of the house you are buying. Others must be paid cash before closing on your home.

Deposit

About $1000

The deposit is the first expense you'll encounter once you're ready to make an offer to purchase a house. After you have viewed and chosen a…

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First Time Home Buyer Incentives

Since first time home buyers tend to be buying a house with less startup capital than others, the government and lenders have to offer incentives to keep the housing market alive. First time buyers can enjoy tax incentives, down payment assistance, and grants that make monthly payments less of a burden.

Tax Incentives

The bad news: The First Time Home Buyer's Tax Credit is no longer valid as of 2010. The good news: There are still plenty of tax incentives for first time buyers that will help offset the cost of buying a home.

Property Tax Deduction

This is a deduction to the amount of your taxable income that varies based on how valuable your house is. You can deduct the amount of property tax you pay to the state or local area…

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Historic Houses in Austin, TX

Source: Larry D. Moore via Wikimedia Commons

Pioneers began settling around the Colorado River way back in the 1830s. Since then, Austin, Texas has grown with incredible momentum. It took only until 1839 for the city to become the Capital of Texas. From its inception to today, Austin has housed some important history-makers. Their legacies are preserved not only by the impact they made but also by their houses. Most of these locations are now under the protection of the National Register of Historic Places, which enforces regulations that safeguard historic structures. Austin is so rich in history that entire districts of historic houses exist within the city. There are also houses rich with stories, some of which you can even buy. If you're…

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Last Minute Fixes Before You Sell Your House

Prepare for open houses and real estate listings by making fixes to your home before it becomes visible. You can get ahead on items that will come up during your home's inspection. Make sure it looks good from the curb and revive old decorations and appliances. You can also try home staging to help raise the value of your home last-minute.

Repair Inspection Items

Fixing items that are on a home inspector's checklist before your inspection will save you the headache of making those fixes all at once. If you make repairs post-inspection, you'll end up paying more money for rushed work at a lower quality.

• Leaky Faucets and Plumbing
  An empty toilet and a dripping faucet are signals to people looking to buy a house that their everyday…

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Why Buy a House?

Building equity in your home is one of the smartest investments you can make. If you put time and money into your home, you'll enjoy significant returns on your investment. As a homeowner, you can improve your net worth, customize your living space, and save money.

Raise Your Net Worth

The median net worth among American homeowners is about $77,000. 75% of that net worth is the equity that owners have accrued. With that equity at nearly $50,000, the average homeowner could cash out on his or her home's equity and make major purchases.

What is net worth?

Your net worth is a dollar value assigned to the total of your assets minus debts. Anything you own, from appliances to cars, counts toward your net worth.

• Automobiles
• …

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The Home Staging Checklist

Getting ready to list your home? Looking to relocate, or find a new home in Austin? Well, you've come to the right place. Here, we're going to go over the huge benefits of making sure your home is staged properly for sale.

Over 81% home buyers find it easier to imagine a property for sale as their future home if it has undergone home staging. The National Association of Realtors 2015 Profile of Home Staging Report confirms the merits of staging. Setting your home up to look like it's prime living space gives potential buyers a better idea of how they can use it. 

What are the benefits of staging my home? 

Stand out among the others

Housing listings are saturated with unstaged homes. Poorly taken photos of uncleaned and undressed properties…

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Buying a House in Austin in 2016

Austin has grown fast in 2015 and experts predict it will grow even faster in 2016. Housing opportunities abound as new jobs are being created all over the city. Austin residents' loyalty to local business allows them to provide lots of employment. Budding technology companies offer jobs to Austin's huge business and technology school graduates. Local restaurants help Austin's college population finish their education by providing a wealth of part-time jobs.

Even among the fluctuation of housing costs, people of all incomes are seeing new housing opportunities. The positivity of the last quarter of 2015 will set the stage for home buying in 2016.

Should I Buy a Newly Built Home?

The short answer is yes, you should buy a newly built…

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Cool Places at Austin's Barton Creek

Barton Creek is a familiar memory for Austin residents and visitors alike. It conjures images of sweltering Texas summers spent cooling down in the gently flowing water. Green grass and tall trees come to mind. Barton Creek has rocks to climb, trails to conquer, paths to run, and nature to drink in.

It's more than just a pool of water, though. Barton Creek is also home to an extensive park belt that houses plenty of culturally significant areas.

What is Barton Creek anyway?

Barton Creek is a tributary off of the Colorado River that runs through the city. A tributary is a miniature river that flows from a larger river. The Colorado River runs southeast and Barton Creek flows southwest away from it. Because of its proximity to MoPac Expressway,…

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The 7 Most Stylish Austin Neighborhoods

Austin grew by a phenomenal 2.9% between July 2013 and July 2014. Its closest competitor was the very worthy Denver, Colorado - at only 2.4% growth. While 2.9% growth doesn't sound very impressive, it means an increase of about 25,000 people for a city of 855,000. But where do all these folks live?

Among the ordinary homes and apartments, you'll find historical districts and burgeoning neighborhoods full of character. Unusual looking houses and strangely structured apartments highlight the mom and pop businesses with that personal touch that makes Austin shine.

You won't find these places just anywhere. You have to know where to look. Fortunately, we've made a list of some of 2015's most stylish neighborhoods for you to peruse.

North Austin…

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How to Live Cheap in Austin

Want to keep more of the money you earn in your pocket and still enjoy all the cultural experiences of Austin?

Austin is a great place to live. But it's not always the cheapest. If more money in the bank sounds great to you, take advantage of these tips for living on the cheap and under the radar in Austin, Texas. The glamor of downtown Austin may look like it's ready to zero your bank balance. But underground Austin hides some incredible spots with rare treasures for the taking.

Outfit Your Home for Next to Nothing

Take a look at some of the places where you can fill your home, closet, and your wallet.

Vintage Furniture

There are more places packed to the brim with vintage furniture than we can list here. Take a look at some of the…

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