Austin Texas Real Estate Blog

Our company has listed a handful of units in the Courtyards at Onion Creek.  All of our listings are being sold directly from the developer, and they are ready for immediate move-in. 

Unit 1103 is offered for sale at $229,000, and it features the following:

• 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths
• 1827 square feet per tax records
• 2-car garage
• Gated community
• 2-story unit with master bedroom downstairs
• Granite counters
• Wood floors
• Tile
• Stainless appliances
• Rounded corners
• High ceilings
• Private back yard
• Seconds from I-35 and 8-10 minutes to downtown Austin

If you're interested in making an appointment to see this property or ANY other in the Austin MLS, please call us anytime at 512-328-8000 or email me at jason@austintexashomes.com.  If you would like to search all Austin TX real estate and homes for sale, visit our website at www.austintexashomes.com.  Thanks, and we look forward to hearing from you soon!

Our company has listed several units in the Courtyards at Onion Creek, located just a few minutes south of downtown Austin, Texas. 

Unit 1204 is offered at just $199,000, and it features the following:

• 2 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms
• Master bedroom downstairs
• 1516 square feet per local tax records
• Built in 2008 - being sold by developer
• 9' - 18' celiings!
• Granite counters
• Wood flooring
• Tile
• Stainless appliances
• Rounded corners
• Private back yard
• 2-car garage with driveway
• Ready for immediate move-in!

If you're interested in making an appointment to see this property or ANY other in the Austin MLS, please call us anytime at 512-328-8000 or email me at jason@austintexashomes.com.  If you would like to search all Austin TX real estate and homes for sale, visit our website at www.austintexashomes.com.  Thanks, and we look forward to hearing from you soon!

We recently listed a handful of units in the Courtyards at Onion Creek development in south Austin, minutes from downtown.  As with all of the units, Unit 1102 boasts an amazing finish-out, including:

• Wood flooring
• Hardwood raised panel custom kitchen cabinets
• Granite counter tops
• G.E. stainless steel appliances with gas stoves
• Built-in microwave and dishwasher
• Stainless steel double-sink
• 9 to 18-foot ceilings with crown molding in living and dining areas in two-story homes
• Direct vent fireplaces with gas logs and glass doors
• Ceiling fans in all bedrooms and living room
• Pre-wired for security system
  
• Generous storage areas

This 2 bedroom unit has 2 full bathrooms, and 2078 square feet per the tax records. 

It's priced to sell at just $219,000.

Along with the purchase, the new owner will get a membership at the Onion Creek Club valued at $10,000!

This particular unit is vacant and ready for immediate move-in.  The entrance to the community is only a few hundred feet from I-35, and the distance to downtown is about 8-9 miles. 

If you're interested in setting up a time to take a look at this property or any other home in the Austin, Texas area, feel free to call me anytime at 512-796-7653 or email jason@austintexashomes.com.  You can also search all Austin Tx real estate for sale by visiting our website at www.austintexashomes.com.

The question above is one that I have heard dozens of times over the years.  Some home buyers hear about the deal that their friend or relative got when they bought a home, and they're curious to see if this is the norm.

In a nutshell, there is no standard formula for real estate prices.  Just as there is no "national" real estate market (markets are local), there is no set percentage that can be negotiated off of a listing price. 

My answer to the question in the title is as follows:

"I wish I could tell you that you can get 3% off, or 5%, or any specific amount, but this is something that has to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis once you find some places that interest you.  We'll have to see how long it's been on the market, whether or not and when they reduced it, stuff like that. 

A home that needs some work might be easier to negotiate than one that's in perfect condition, or a place that's vacant might mean they're making two payments already. 

Truthfully, I can give you a better answer once you've found a place that you want to pursue."

A little long-winded?  Perhaps, but it's also the best answer that I can offer.

If you are a home buyer reading this post, I hope this comes in handy.  If you're an agent, feel free to steal this answer for your own purposes.  :-)

I'm not typically one to advocate memorizing scripts for various situations, since it's more natural to put things in your own words, but if you're new to the business, this gives you an outline to start from. 

Thanks for reading!

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/drachmann/327122302/

I recently listed a home at 8014 Brienne Drive in the Cat Hollow subdivision.  Rather than posting a number of still photos, I decided to create a video walkthrough tour instead.  Sure, I have pictures on the MLS, but for my blog, I thought this would be more informative.  Sorry for the wind noise in the first few seconds of footage. :-)

Enjoy:

I have a new listing that already appears to be generating interest from other agents.  Located in the heart of Pflugerville, it's convenient to both I-35 and Toll 45.

Features:

• Built in 2001
• 1967 square feet per tax records
  
• 4 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms
  
• Covered patio
  
• Located in the Heatherwilde subdivision
  
• Immaculately maintained!
  
• 4th bedroom could be nice study/office
  
• Large, open kitchen with lots of counter space
  
• Tons of natural light
  
• Brick fireplace/hearth
  
• 9 foot ceilings
  
• Breakfast bar
  
• Large boat pad at side of home (10' wide)
  
• Easy walk to community pool and playground!

If you're interested in seeing this home or any other in the Austin area, feel free to call me anytime at 512-796-7653 (cell).  If you would like to search the Austin MLS, visit my Austin real estate site at http://austintexashomes.com. 

I hope to hear from you soon!

Jason

I listed a home for some friends of mine last week, and I expect it to sell quickly, considering the features and price.  It's nestled in the back of a culdesac in Block House Creek, and it's conveniently located to both 183 and 183A (toll). 

Features:

• Cute, well-maintained home with 3 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms
• 1195 square feet
• Vaulted ceilings in living area
• Cute kitchen
• Refrigerator, washer and dryer, and lawnmowing equipment will stay!
• Carpet replaced 2008
• Roof replaced 2009
• Oversized culdesac lot
• Nice upgraded tile in kitchen/breakfast
• Floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace
• Large deck (part covered, part uncovered)
• Sprinkler system
• Storage shed/workshop (has A/C unit and lighting)
• Walk to nearby pool/playground

If you are interested in seeing this home, please give me a call anytime at 512-796-7653 (cell).  You can also search for Austin homes for sale at our primary website, www.austintexashomes.com.  I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Located near the intersection of Steck and Mesa in the Northwest Hills area, this condo listing is very affordable and convenient.  Mesa Village is a well-maintained, established complex with lots of trees, and a community pool, tennis courts, and a clubhouse.

Other features:

• Just over 1000 square feet per the tax records
• 2 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms 
• Great floor plan including large closets and a utility space
• The amazing Northwest Hills location is easily accessible from 360, 183 and MoPac. 
• Top AISD schools and public transportation are within walking distance.
• Refrigerator and stackable washer and dryer convey with property!

If you are interested in seeing this condo in person, call Sylvia Christensen anytime at 512-297-3193.  If you are looking to search Austin Texas real estate, visit our site at www.austintexashomes.com. Thanks!

We recently listed a home in the Stone Canyon subdivision that features some phenomenal amenities for the price.  It was built by David Weekley Homes in 2000 (I sold it when it was brand-new), and it's had only one owner.

Offered at $314,000, this large one-story home backs to a densely wooded greenbelt area. 

Features include:

• Beautifully Landscaped Backyard
• Covered Patio
• 4 Bdr or 3Bdr+Study w/2 Closets
• 2.5 Baths
• Spacious Formal Dining/Living Area
• Open Kitchen/Breakfast/Family Area
• Granite Counters with Huge Island for Dining
• Built-in appliances
• Recent Stainless Gas Cooktop & Deep Sink
• Extensive Tile Floors
• 10'Ceilings
• Awesome Master Closet
• Huge Laundry Room
• 2.5car garage(X-Deep)
• Exemplary Fern Bluff Elementary
• Acclaimed Round Rock schools

If you would like to set up a time to take a look at this home, please call Victoria Tackett at 512-845-2084 (cell).  If you would like to search Austin real estate, visit our site at www.austintexashomes.com. 

Thanks!

Once again, Austin, Texas has been named as one of the strongest local economies in the country.   In a new report just released by the Milken Institute and Greenstreet Real Estate Partners, Austin was found to be #1 on the list of Best-Performing Cities for 2009.  

In a nutshell, this index ranks U.S. metros based on their ability to create and sustain jobs.  Clearly, this is a terrific feeling, and it's one of the reasons that home prices have stayed consistent with very little depreciation, even during really rough times.  Austin is expected to be among a handful of cities in the U.S. that will add jobs in the upcoming year.

Texas has four of the top five top metro areas named on the list, with Salt Lake City at #3.  Killeen, McAllen, and Houston were all among the top cities.

From the report itself:

Regional economic factors also strongly influenced the rankings this year, with the oil and gas sector, technology, and alternative energy providing stability among metros in Texas, North Carolina, Washington, and Louisiana, which also benefited from low dependence on housing/construction. Austin in particular has been helped by its strong tech industry. It is the first metro to ever be ranked number one twice on the index, the last time being in 2000.

 To see the entire report, visit:

http://www.areadevelopment.com/article_pdf/id88703_Best-PerformingCities2009.pdf

For additional information about relocating to Austin, you can check out my online relocation package right here:

Austin Texas Relocation Package

If you are looking to make a move to Austin to take a new job, or for any other reason at all, please feel free to call or email me anytime.  I would love the opportunity to help you find the right home.  My cell phone number is 512-796-7653, and my email address is jason@austintexashomes.com.  You can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com.  

Photo credit:http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaanah/69591962/