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In the city of Austin a new energy ordinance will require that homeowners have an energy efficiency audit done prior to selling their home. The audit report must be disclosed to the buyer of their home. Energy audit and disclosure will become a part of the home purchase process in mid 2009.
In Austin's hot climate energy performance has a lot to do with how efficiently the central AC system works. We are more concerned about cooling than heating, but both systems are used throughout the...
A Greener Front Walk
We recently built a contemporary farmhouse style home. There was no lawn sod or sprinkler system for extra water. Deer are rampant in the neighborhood, so the landscaping choices are limited. We have dry periods too. Lady Bird Johnson once said - I like it when the land speaks its own language in its own regional accent. We intended to follow her lead. The terrain was left as natural as possible - mostly oaks and native grasses.
When it came time to put in a front walk we were sure...
Subprime Loans - Playing Against the House
A subprime mortgage used to be an alternative for borrowers who did not fit standard guidelines. Perhaps they just started a new business or had some past credit problems. These borrowers paid a high interest rate or put more money down to compensate the lender for making a risky loan. Private investors who would accept higher risk for higher returns funded these loans.
In recent years we began to see a new type of subprime loan. It was intended to enable a lot more people to buy...
Seven Ways to Help Sell Your Home
In a slower real estate market, sellers cannot afford to ignore any part of the marketing process. Price, preparation, and presentation must be excellent in order to attract a buyer. The price must be set realistically. Preparation should include fresh paint, de-cluttering, updated floor materials, and no glaring repair needs. And, presentation should be meticulous, with drapes open, lights on, lawn mowed, and interior cleaned.
Showing your home is the final step in winning the heart of...
7 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Duplex Condo
Condominium is a form of ownership of real estate. In this type of ownership the owner has individual title to the air space inside the unit, plus an undivided interest in the buildings and land.
Condominium ownership is guided by a set of declarations that are written at the time of creation of the development. This document outlines how the condo will be governed and maintained. The Texas Real Estate Commission contract allows the buyer to receive a copy of the condo documents, and...
Kitchen Countertops - A Value Added Upgrade
The material that covers your kitchen counters is one of the most visible and memorable features in your home. It helps to establish the design, color theme, and level of finish out. Today there are new choices in countertops, and old ones are making a comeback. If you are thinking of making a change, here are a dozen countertop choices for you to choose from:
Granite: This has been the most popular choice in recent years. Granite is a strong, heat tolerant, and stain resistant countertop....
What is Hot in Houses Today
Are you are preparing your home for sale, planning to remodel, or shopping for a new home? Find out what is important in the current housing market, and make choices that contribute the most value and enjoyment for the money.
Home Styles
Old world styles are popular. French, English, Tuscan and Spanish homes with stone or stucco walls, tile roofs, iron fixtures, heavy beams and rustic floors are in demand. A sense of historic connection resonates with buyers today.
The Craftsman...
How to Build a Green Home
Green building is a design process that grows out of a connection with the natural landscape. It is a set of informed decisions that considers the site and materials to reduce the cost, maintenance, and energy usage of the home. Conservation is central to the green building approach. Green homes are healthier, safer, more comfortable, and cost less to operate. They connect people to the land and community around them. Here are seven green building ideas:
1) Build a passive solar...
Clean and Neutralize Your Home For Sale
We often arrange our homes to express ourselves - our travels, collections, families, favorite colors and unique tastes. However, when selling a home, the goal is to create just the opposite - a clean, neutral background that many different buyers would like to move into. Buyers must feel that they could fit right in and be comfortable in your house. You can help to create this feeling inexpensively by simply cleaning and neutralizing your home before putting it on the market.
(1) Clean...
Improve Your Credit Score Before Buying a Home
Several months before you begin to look for a home, you should take steps to get "credit approved" for your loan. Start by making a list of all your existing loans and credit cards, with the company names, account numbers and monthly payment amounts. This will help you to analyze the information shown on your credit report. Include all closed loans and credit cards if these records are available.
1) Get a Financial Check-Up
Make an appointment with a good mortgage lender, and request a...
Seven Steps to De-Clutter Your Home for Sale
Your home may be in good condition and well built, yet simple clutter will create a perception of chaos, confusion, and disorder. The purchase decision is an emotional and intellectual response, based on a level of trust in your home. When buyers see clutter, they assume that the home has been neglected, with more to fix than meets the eye. This perception undermines your home's market value.
De-cluttering is an essential part of your preparation, and is virtually cost free. This...
The Value of a Construction Inspection
Buyers of re-sale homes almost always have their homes inspected by a professional inspector. Buyers of new homes, however, often do not take this important step. There are several reasons for this:
The buyer is getting a brand new home, and thinks that the inspection is an unnecessary added cost.
The buyer feels that they are protected by the builder's one-year warranty for workmanship, plus extended structural warranty.
In many cases, the home is inspected by city inspectors as...
Real Estate Ownership - Condominium or Fee Simple
I. Introduction
There is a common perception that condos are apartment-style buildings, that townhouses are two-story row houses with adjoining walls, and that garden homes are free-standing houses on small lots. Unfortunately, this perception may create confusion about real estate ownership.
The term apartment, townhouse, or garden home describes the layout and design of certain homes. By contrast, the word condominium does not refer to a type of building or...
Preparing Your Home for Sale: Make Needed Repairs
Before a buyer considers your home seriously, it must meet his needs in a variety of ways. It must be a suitable commuting distance, neighborhood, design style, floorplan, size, number of bedrooms, etc. If all or most of these needs are met, the buyer will begin to move in the direction of making a purchase decision. The purchase decision is a both an emotional and intellectual response, founded on a level of trust in your home. So, it is logical that in marketing your home your goal should be...
Negotiating the Sale of Your Home
Negotiating a successful sale of your home requires good communication skills. You must sustain the buyer's interest and trust during the process. Many of our clients have been very experienced negotiators, and from them we have learned that the goal is to reach a good agreement - one in which the underlying interests of both seller and buyer are met. The results of a poor agreement may come back to haunt the parties after the closing. Here are some thoughts to consider as you prepare to...
Negotiating the Purchase of Your Home
Negotiating a successful real estate contract requires communication and listening skills, as well as the ability to create a environment of cooperation. Many of our real estate clients have been very experienced negotiators, and from them we have learned that the goal is to reach a good agreement - one in which the underlying interests of both buyer and seller are met. The results of a poor agreement may come back to haunt the parties after closing. Here are some thoughts for you to...
Pricing Your Home For Sale
Professional appraisers sum it up in three words -- buyers make value. Ultimately, the value of your home is what a reasonable buyer is willing to pay within a reasonaable time. Setting an asking price for your home requires that you anticipate what most buyers would be willing to pay. This requires a close look at comparable home sales in your area, as well as making an assessment of the state of the real estate market itself. Pricing correctly is fundamental to the successful outcome in...
Negotiating the Real Estate Contract
Negotiating the Real Estate Contract
by: Roselind Hejl
Negotiation is the process of communication back and forth in order to reach a joint agreement. There is no "one size fits all" strategy of negotiating a real estate contract. Many of our clients have been very experienced negotiators, and we have learned a great deal from them, as well as from books on the subject. We would like to share some of our thoughts on negotiating with you:
What do we want to achieve in a negotiation?
The...
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