Category Archives: Listings

Austin Subdivision Spotlights

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market spotlight A list of  subdivisions in the greater Austin area and current real estate market data for them is featured below.  Active homes on the market are defined as units that do not have an accepted contract on them.    Active homes, as well as other data change constantly as houses in Austin enter and leave the market.   The data is subdivision specific and gives an overall snapshot of the price point and desire for that particular Austin market. There may be additional homes available for purchase in the general market area.

The data below is specific to single family homes.

Barton Hills (Zilker Park Area)

Number of Active Houses on the Market: 5

Average Days on Market: 39

Median List Price: $ 599,000

Circle C Ranch (Southwest Austin)

Number of Active Houses on the Market: 13

Average Days on Market: 38

Median List Price: $ 389,990

Hyde Park (Central Austin)

Number of Active Houses on the Market: 4

Average Days on Market: 91

Median List Price: $ 484,000

City of West Lake Hills

Number of Active Houses on the Market: 17

Average Days on Market: 129

Median List Price: $ 995,000

Shady Hollow (Southwest Austin)

Number of Active Houses on the Market: 7

Average Days on Market: 58

Median List Price: $ 344,900

Northwest Hills (North Central Austin)

Number of Active Houses on the Market: 7

Average Days on Market: 78

Median List Price: $ 729,000

Tarrytown (Central Austin)

Number of Active Houses on the Market: 13

Average Days on Market: 74

Median List Price: $ 970,000

Travis Heights (Central Austin)

Number of Active Houses on the Market: 6

Average Days on Market: 62

Median List Price: $ 774,475

Average Days on Market below 90 days are considered Seller’s markets, because homes are moving quickly. Neighborhoods with homes on the market between 3 and 6 months are considered neutral.

 

1415 Laurel Glen Boulevard For Sale

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White stone front single story beauty features professionally landscaped front and backyard with nice tree canopy, white stone wood burning fireplace in living, laminate and tile flooring throughout with large closets. Nice floor plan with master bedroom suite separate from secondary bedrooms. One bedroom could double as a study. Updates include: double-hung windows, tile bathtub surround, French glass back door, garage doors, kitchen counters and stainless steel sink. Large deck with storage shed in the backyard.  Close to Pleasant Hill Elementary

1415 Laurel Glen Boulevard, Leander Texas 78641

  • 1,377 square feet (per tax record)
  • 3 bedrooms
  • 2 baths
  • Single Story
  • 2 car garage
  • no carpet
  • Fireplace
  • Year built 1986

Oak Ridge Subdivision in Leander

1415 Laurel Glen Boulevard is located in the Oak Ridge subdivision.  Oak Ridge features a community pool, playground, tennis and sports court.

1415 Laurel Glen Blvd. is a home for sale in Leander, Texas

 

 

 

Austin Homes for Sale with Garages

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10424 Beard AveWhen I have an initial consultation with new buyers moving to Austin, one of the questions I ask is whether or not they need a garage.  The answer is often “of course, I need a garage – why would a house not have a garage?”   Understanding there are areas of the country where everyone has one,  I explain that, in Austin, garages can be somewhat of a luxury item depending on where in this fair city one wishes to live.  There are many homes that have garages, but some areas in Austin began development in the early 1900’s and simply don’t.  Houses found in neighborhoods like Travis Heights and Hyde Park for example, have the charm and warmth of yesteryear, and often don’t have garages.

Within the City of Austin roughly 15% of houses that are actively on the market, do not have garages.  With condos, about 38% of the active real estate market in Austin to do not have garages.  Overall that percentage may seem rather low, but in certain subdivisions the percentage is much higher.  In the last 90 days in the Travis Heights subdivision, 7 out of 18 houses for sale did not have a garage.  Remember not garages are created equal either.  I’ve seen many that are ready to fall over.

Moving to Austin

It’s very hard for people to live without a garage when they have always had one.  With roughly 25,000 people moving to Austin in the next year from all over the country, it is important to understand what new Austin buyers are expecting and need so the criteria can be set rather than an assumed.  As I have stated, not all garages are created equal, but I can search for houses and even condos that have a garage.  With some flexibility, finding a garage in Austin does not need to be a needle in a haystack.  Just don’t ask for a basement – because that, on the other hand, is a very small needle.

Austin Real Estate Market a challenge for Contingency Offers

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money houseI had a buyer call and ask how strong a contingency offer is perceived in the Austin real estate market. What makes an offer a contingency is an addendum that is attached to a contract. The contingency addendum defines certain timelines and deadlines that a seller and buyer agree to. A contingency addendum is used when a buyer needs to make a purchase contingent on the sale of their existing home. A contingency addendum is used to protect the buyer’s earnest money in the new contract.

Anything can happen when a home goes under contract, from a buyer simply changing their mind during the option period to an underwriter denying a loan. A contingency eliminates some of the risk for the buyer by protecting the earnest money on the home they want to purchase.

Buying a Home in Austin with a Contingency can be a Challenge

Contingencies don’t eliminate all for the risk the buyer. The addendum typically has a deadline for releasing the contingency if the seller has another offer they wish to accept. The deadline is typically 3 days. If the buyer is not secure enough that the contract to purchase their existing home is going to move forward, they may not be comfortable releasing the contingency. The earnest money would be at risk and the buyer would be in default if they can’t close.

If the buyer does not release the contingency, their contract terminates. The good news is that they get their earnest money back – the bad news is that they no longer have a house.

Active and Active Contingent listings in the Austin Multiple Listing Service

For the seller, accepting a contingency offer may seem like a win-win because they can accept another offer – but there is a catch. When a seller accepts one, the status in the Austin Multiple Listing Service changes to AC, instead of A for Active. AC statuses appear at the bottom of buyer’s home searches and often get less traffic. Right now in Austin, with so many homes going into multiple offers in the greater Austin area, it is hard for contingency buyers to compete due to the risk of never making it to the finish line.

Austin is Hot

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hot earthAustin is hot and I’m not just talking about the weather.  Austin’s growth is outpacing the supply of homes in inventory which is making it a competitive market to buy and even rent in.  Over 25,000 people moved to Austin between July 2011 and July 2012, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.  The growth moved Austin’s ranking of the nation’s largest cities from the 13th spot to number 11.

Austin Real Estate Market sees more new construction

Austin is expecting to 27,000 people moving into town each year for the next 3 years.  The Austin Board of Realtors has reported a 32% increase year-over-year in new home construction in the second quarter of this year.

Curb Appeal

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Mather RoadIt’s Showtime! That’s what I tell sellers when we go live with their Austin real estate on the Austin Multiple Listing Service, Realtor.com, Austinhomesearch.com and about 100 more websites.  Showtime for one of my Austin listings generally includes a sign in the yard with a text rider for color pictures and data.  Before the marketing begins, the outside work need to be finished because the exterior of the house will set the stage for what’s inside.

A showing starts at the street

Listing appointments are more than just about the paperwork, market data and pricing.  I tour the home with a buyer’s eyes pointing out things along the way that have often been there for so long the owner doesn’t even see them anymore.  My suggestions start from the street, not inside the house.  I tell sellers all of the time that I want the house to look ‘light, bright and happy.’ I want people to feel good when they visit one of my listings from the moment they pull up to the house.  Whether a potential buyer is just driving home from work or a buyer’s agent is showing a property, the goal is to get the buyer to come inside because they want to see more.

Add curb appeal to your Austin home

Here are some tips to get your home show ready or maybe just a little happier:

  • Replace dead plants with flowers
  • Store garage and recycling containers on the side of the house or in the garage.  Not only does this increase curb appeal, it also aids in parking in front of the house.
  • Put the garden hose away when not in use.  Buyers don’t want to be walking over it to get to the front door.
  • Paint your mail box and door knocker (if rusting) with some metallic paint.
  • Replace the door mat.
  • Hose off the front of the house (you can power wash but just be prepared to paint)
  • Clean the gutters
  • Rake and sweep dead leaves

Added Steps Austin Buyers Appreciate

Want to go the extra mile?  Most home buyers would like to have a green thumb, but not everyone does.  Buyers do appreciate and see the appeal when home owners go the extra mile and plant drought resistant plants.  With water restrictions already in place throughout most of Central Texas, using native plants and grasses that are heat and drought tolerant shows a buyer that the owner was thinking ahead.  Buyers will know they won’t be replanting plants in a year or won’t need to water excessively.

Curb appeal can make all of the difference in getting a buyer inside a house and getting it sold.

1101 Blue Fox Drive, Austin TX 78753

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1101 Blue Fox Drive, Austin TX1101 Blue Fox Drive is located in the North-East subdivision of Harris Ridge.  Built in 1993, this single story home has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and a 2-car garage.  Highlights include a wood burning fireplace in living room and large backyard deck with covered lattice adding nice outdoor living space.

For Sale 1101 Blue Fox Dr., Austin TX 78753

The floor plan for 1101 Blue Fox Drive has the master bedroom separate from the secondary bedrooms.  There is a 2-car attached garage and a dining area that could be used for added living space.

Pride of Ownership shows through the extensive amount of updates throughout 1101 Blue Fox Drive which include: Roof, HV/AC, HWH (2010), Silestone kitchen counter with sink, ceramic and glass block tile (2011), Garage Door (2005), Backyard Fence (2009), Most of interior freshly painted, Energy Efficient Appliances (2007), Gutters (2006), In-ground Sprinklers (2006), Pergo flooring in main living areas (2005), Stained deck and new lattice (2013).

1101 Blue Fox Drive, Austin TX 78753 is located in the Pflugerville School District.  There is a neighborhood pool, park, sports court and field for soccer and other games.  Harris Ridge residents participate in a bi-annual neighborhood garage sale and an annual neighborhood party at the park.

The Harris Ridge subdivision is located near the well-known Tech-Ridge area of Austin.