Real Estate Blog

Allandale - Austin Neighborhood Spotlight

Highlights

• Median Household Income: $68,000
• Median Age: 38
• Average Household Size: 2

The Allandale neighborhood is a working class neighborhood with an active community and cooperative homeowners. There are houses available to buy or rent in this neighborhood. The Allandale Neighborhood Association, a non-profit homeowners association, elects a committee dedicated to city beautification and local safety.

Photo Source: Hollie B. via Yelp

Location

Allandale is a beautiful neighborhood in north central Austin, TX. The Allandale neighborhood is situated in ZIP codes 78756 and 78757. The borders of the neighborhood are Burnet Road on the east side and the Brentwood and Crestview neighborhoods on the west side. Loop 1, or the…

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How Do I Know When I'm Ready to Buy A House?

Think about your financial, work, and personal situations. Buying a house requires you to be financially independent, on a career track, and ready to support changes in your personal life. Consider the following:

• Do I have regular income from a reliable source? Have I been receiving income for at least 2 years with promising future prospects?
• Have I saved enough money to make a decent down payment on a house?
• Am I regular and on-time when paying bills?
• Do I have debts like car payments and student loans?
• Can I afford a mortgage and any other home buying costs without compromising my financial security?

Think honestly about the answer to each question. Without a definitive yes or no answer, you may not be in a position to buy a…

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Should I Hire a Real Estate Agent?

If you’re planning to buy a home in Austin, TX, you may be wondering if you should hire a real estate agent. Having a professional guide you through the home buying process can be invaluable in helping you find the perfect house at the right price. In this blog post, we’ll explore the key benefits of hiring a real estate agent in Austin and discuss some tips for finding the right agent for your needs. 

Why You Should Hire a Real Estate Agent

There are several key reasons why you should consider hiring a real estate agent when purchasing a home in Austin. For starters, agents have access to a wealth of resources that you don’t, including information on properties that are currently listed on the market and even exclusive “pocket listings” that only…

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15 Year Mortgage vs. 30 Year Mortgage

For those who are buying a house, banks and lenders that offer home loans give borrowers the option to pay their mortgages over the course of either 15 years or 30 years and anywhere within that range. A 15-year mortgage allows you, the borrower, to pay off the principal on your new house quickly without accruing 15 extra years of interest. A 30-year loan lowers your payments so you can live comfortably while paying off your home loan.

Which mortgage is better?

For the average home buyer, neither the 15 nor the 30-year mortgage is better than the other. Advantages that come with paying off your home loan faster with a 15-year mortgage are offset by the advantages of saving money on a monthly basis over the life of a 30-year mortgage.…

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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 property…

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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 from…

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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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