Pool is a Four-Letter Word

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It’s pool season! ‘Tis the season for not just Austin pool homes in my market, but homes with pools nationwide.  If you are a regular reader of my blogs, you know I’m not exactly a raving fan of pools. They cost money to maintain. They can narrow your buyer pool. They can even limit how long you might want to stay in your home. None of my past posts about them have been 100% positive, and this one is no exception. Just like ‘boat’, ‘pool’ is a four-letter word. They are great, until they are not. They cost a lot of money, until you don’t own one anymore.

Now here’s the good news. Pools are headturners for those buyers who want one, especially this time of year. They have no greater value than when it is 90+ degrees outside. This may be Texas, where pools can be open all year, but summer is pool season.

Here’s more good news. Any way you can turn a head in this market is a card you should play. While not everyone wants a backyard pool, they are in limited supply at any given time, making any house that has one unique.

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Austin Real Estate: Finding Balance

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May is all the things. It’s a month for graduations, college move-out, summer planning, proms, and school ending. For many, it’s the start of the home-buying and selling season. Welcome to May-cember. On top of all of that, it’s suddenly hot enough to fry an egg outside. What lovely weather to tour homes.

Real estate activity in May often feels like it hits a speed bump. The challenge this year is that the speed bump is getting harder to get over as the inventory grows. It doesn’t matter what side of the table you are sitting on. The process is slow out there with the number of homes for sale to sift through.

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Spring Selling In Austin 2025: Let the Market Chase You

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Austin real estate spring 2025 is here. Now is the time for homeowners to step on the gas if they want to participate in this market. Just like flowers, buyers bloom this time of year. ‘Tis the season for selling real estate, but are buyers going to buy?

Buyers drive the market. We’ve hit the five-year anniversary of the pandemic and the second coming of the wild west, at least here in Austin. In those days, buyers were speeding to look at houses for sale, and racing to submit an offer to try and get a seat at the table.

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Find Luck in Real Estate This Spring

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Expect the unexpected. The year has been full of twists and turns. Real estate is no exception. My last listing went under contract in about a week. If the average day count for homes to sit on the market is 50, it doesn’t mean you have 50 days. Mortgage interest rates have come down a bit, and homebuyers are shopping.

Spring is officially here. We’ve started the Sunday fun day season in Austin. ‘Tis the season for SXSW, MotoGP, Rodeo Austin, and even Hamilton’s coming to town.

So, how do you find luck in this market? You have to be in it to win it.

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The Art of Real Estate: Aligning Buyers and Sellers

The Art of Real Estate: Aligning Buyers and Sellers l real estate alignment l home pricing strategy l hone selling tips l buying and selling homes l Austin realtor

Let’s talk about alignment—not the kind that balances your chakras, but the kind that matters in real estate. Whether buying or selling, alignment is key to a successful transaction.

A sale is almost inevitable when location, price, and a home’s condition are in sync. Location is a fixed factor—it is what it is. The rest? That’s where strategy comes into play.

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From Buying a Home to Selling a House

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I went on a listing appointment a couple of weeks ago for a client selling a house. Half of the tour around the home was about the house. The other half of the tour was about the memories.

The photos on the walls in every room retold highlights from a quinceañera and other family milestones. The grounds also had a tale to tell through historical remnants from the community’s development. Every story added to what made the house a home. Continue reading

Selling Homes with Good Chi

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Selling homes with good chi is no different than working with people with good energy. They both make you feel good.  I have always been gifted with clients radiating great energy. How often do we think about homes having positive vibes too?

Understanding some basic principles of Feng Shui can help bring you and your home back into balance.  A stress-free home is not only important for every homeowner, but it is important to a potential buyer as well.  A happy home is easier to sell. Continue reading