Tag Archives: Selling a home

Looking to sell a home in Austin? Doreen Zelma is a real estate professional ready to help. Doreen is a seasoned listing agent and offers only best marketing in Austin.

Pool Time in Austin

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Akoya AustinSwimming pools are an instant source for entertainment, relaxation and exercise. They provide a backyard retreat, a tranquil view and a luxury marker some buyers dream about having. For those Austin home buyers who want a pool, houses with them are much easier to sell. Forget the condition of the house– that oasis in the backyard, especially on a hot day kind of sells itself, doesn’t it?

Pools can often be a hindrance more than a help when selling. Not everyone wants a pool. In fact, I would say 70% of people don’t. Pools cost money and time to maintain. In addition, there are safety concerns for people with small children and pets. They can also take up a lot of yard space.

Swimming Pool Tips for both Buyers and Sellers:

Swimming Pool Owners and Future Sellers

•Maintain and update your pool. Nobody wants to buy a money pit (literally).
•If you can afford to switch to saline – it is a selling feature.
•If you own in a subdivision where most homes have a private pool…buyers will be comparing your ‘pool’ appeal.
•Make sure the pool area looks clean, maintained and inviting.

Buying a Home with a Pool

•A general inspector will not inspect a pool, but many pool companies do. Have a pool inspection – they can be costly to fix.
•If you want to know how much it costs to maintain a pool including chemicals, electric and water, the answer is: you don’t want a pool! They can be costly, and if you are already watching your budget — a pool is going to blow it.
•Remember, pools limit your potential number of buyers, so they can take longer to sell when the time comes.

Community Pools in Austin

Austin Texas has a variety of options for people who want to enjoy a pool, but don’t want to maintain one. Many planned single family home communities in Austin have pools that are included with HOA fees or may require a nominal additional fee. Condominium communities in Austin often have a private pool as well for residents. An automated home search can be customized to only include properties with pools and/or community pools.

Public Pools and Swimming Holes in Austin

There are many public pools in Austin as well. There are 29 neighborhood pools and 6 municipal pools in total. The most well known pool is Barton Springs, located in Zilker Park. Centrally located in the neighborhood of Barton Hills, Barton Springs Pool is spring fed, just over 900 feet long and maintains a consistent temperature of 68 degrees year round. Hamilton Pool Preserve is a unique, historic swimming hole located just outside of Austin in Dripping Springs. The canyon, grotto and waterfall provide a picturesque and popular summer attraction within the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve.

Ready to sell in Sellers’ Market Austin

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sellers' market austinThe sellers’ market Austin is experiencing is showing no signs of slowing down. Statistics from March 2016 in by Austin Board of REALTORS® show Austin-area single-family home sales up 9.3 percent totaling 2,552 home sales compared to March 2015. A sellers market indicates inventory is low and demand is high. There is still competition within specific markets and there are still buyer certain expectations when it comes to condition.

Sellers’ Market Austin

When you have owned a home for a while, things tend to disappear. The do-it-yourself crown molding project that stops half way across the wall is now invisible. The trim around the replacement window from 5 years ago that never got repainted is just a distant memory. You don’t see them anymore, so they have been removed from the perpetual to-do list. Now you want to sell your house and the memories come rushing back of how you couldn’t cut the angle right or find the paint color.

Sell a Home in Austin

Unfinished projects disappear two ways. One way is to pay a professional to come in and finish or redo the project. Yes, there is a cost here, but it eliminates the question in the buyer’s mind of what it will take to finish it. The second way to deal with an unfinished project is to make it go away again.

Money can have the magical power of making things go away and may come into play even in the Sellers’ market Austin has. If a seller does not have the money to finish a project before putting it on the market, making a price concession either on the home’s sales price or even offering some closing costs will help.

Unfinished projects tend to haunt buyers just as they may have weighed on a seller at one point in time.

The truth is that not all unfinished projects ever get finished. That little thing called ‘life’ happens and often gets in the way. They are often in a constant state of either being the elephant in the room or invisible. It’s all a matter of perspective.

3355 County Road 279 Leander TX 78641

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3355 County Road 279 Leander

Leander Home For Sale:  Country setting, 3355 County Road 279 Leander Texas on 5+ acres w/ horse barn & garage/workshop for the auto enthusiast. Home features mother in-law plan, all good-sized rooms; one bedroom would work well as an office. Granite in kitchen, large wood burning fireplace in living room, 2 central heating and air conditioning units, 2 hot water heaters, main roof replaced (’14), energy efficient windows (’13) and horse stalls.

3355 County Road 279 Leander Texas sits on 5+ acres w/ Horse Barn & Garage/Workshop

  • 3-Bay Workshop includes: paint bay, small office, storage & extra bath.
  • Horse Barn with stalls for 4 horses
  • Single Story Home
  • Metal Roofs on Outbuildings
  • Ceiling Fans
  • Vaulted Ceiling in Living Room
  • Covered Decks
  • 3-sides masonry and stained wood siding on main house
  • Exterior wood siding re-stained (2016)
  • Exterior wood railings painted (2016)
  • Main house septic drain field (2014)

Take a Virtual Tour of 3355 County Road 279, Leander, Texas 78641

The main house has 4 spacious bedrooms, 2.5 baths with 2,893 square feet of living space (appraiser). Other details include covered patio, 2-car carport, parking pad & dog run. Fenced yard. No Carpet. No home owners association. 5 miles to HEB Plus, MetroRail, 183/183A.

MLS# 5750957

Austin Home Sales Predictions for 2016

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New yearsThe market is on the move with no signs of slowing down as we settle into 2016 and look at Austin home sales. The Fed did raise interest rates as expected. With the economy well on the mend, additional upticks are on the horizon as interest rates slowly drift to normal levels. The interest rate always affects the housing market because it taps into buying power. Interest is part of the monthly mortgage payment. Higher rates mean a higher payment, which affects debt-to-income ratio.

Austin Home Sales Predictions 2016 and Housing Demand

Historically, rising interest rates generally decrease home prices because buyers can afford less; but it can also create an immediate demand. Buyers want to lock into mortgages when they know rates will be increasing.

In Austin, the demand for housing was already high without the rate increase. I expect increasing rates will only create more motivation to buy a home.

Realtor.com says Austin-Round Rock will be the fifth most sought out city for 25- to 34-year-olds looking to purchase a home.

As long as the demand is high and inventory is low, housing prices in Austin will continue to rise.  There is currently about 2.6 months of single-family home inventory in Austin for sale.

The Best Time to Sell a Home in Austin

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Cottages at NorthwoodsIt’s that time of year again when homeowners start to question whether to sell now or wait. The answer lies in the advantage for each individual seller.  If the goal is to sell for the highest price, that number is determined by what the market will bare.  Remember the real estate market when you are selling is centered around the price, condition and location of the home in question. 

Where Homes are Selling in the Austin

The only thing that matters is how the market specific to that home is moving.  If there are a lot of similiar homes currently on the market (competition), then it may best to wait.  If there is hardly any inventory out there, you are in a good position to sell now.  Waiting for more competition to hit the market doesn’t make much sense when you ideally want scarcity.

The Holiday Season has Ready, Willing and Able Buyers in Austin for Ready and Willing Sellers

The holiday season is upon us and if that means to a potential seller that friends and family are coming every weekend making it hard to show the house – wait until January.  After all, it is hard to sell a home that can’t be shown. If a seller is not ready and willing to sell a home, it is best not to introduce potential buyers to it prematurely.

The Best Time to Sell a Home in Austin

We don’t have magic potion to predict the future.  What a specific real estate market is going to look like for any particular seller in January or even April is dependent on what the competition looks like at that particular time.  The market now, combined with the owner’s willingness to show it during the holidays, will help determine whether it is the right time to sell.

Home Sold in Shiloh l South Austin 78745

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Shiloh Austin, TXJust sold in the Shiloh neighborhood in South Austin. Sweet single story charmer on a tree lined street lets the sunshine in. Great layout offers: Large living room with fireplace, plenty of  cabinetry and sprawling granite counters in kitchen, separate dining area, with access to outdoor deck and fenced in backyard.

2716 Cameron Loop, Austin Texas 78745

2716 Cameron Loop features 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and a 2 car-garage. Extra details
include silestone counters in baths, laminate and tile flooring throughout along
with surround sound.

Shiloh South Austin 78745

2716 Cameron Loop was built in 1982 and is just under 1,400 square feet. 2716
Cameron Loop is located zip code 78745, in the popular South Austin neighborhood
called Shiloh, with a park located across the street.

Changes in Closing Timeline

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DollarsFall is here. Leaves and wardrobes are starting to change and closings are too. New rules from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, going into effect October 3rd, will change your closing timeline. These changes are happening on the federal level, not just in Texas.

Know Before You Owe

Two forms, the Truth in Lending Disclosure and the Good Faith Estimate, that every current home owner is familiar with will be replaced. The Loan Estimate will replace the Good Faith Estimate and initial Truth in Lending disclosure and must be given within 3 days after receipt of the loan application.

The Closing Disclosure replaces the HUD-1 and final Truth in Lending Disclosure and must be given to home buyers 3 business days before the closing. For example, if the closing is on a Friday, the borrower will need to have the Closing disclosure by Tuesday.

A business day is considered every calendar day except Sundays and 10 specific public holidays. With a few exceptions, changes can be made to the Closing Disclosure without triggering another 3-day mandatory timeline prior to closing.

New rules do not apply if a loan application is submitted prior to October 3rd.

Closing Timeline now 45 days

Lenders and title companies cannot implement the new forms into their business practices until they are mandatory on October 3rd. Like any change, the beginning may be a little bumpy when the new deadlines take affect. In order to keep closings on track and avoid delays, it has been encouraged that buyers and sellers allow for a 45 day closing timeline. Contracts will be written with closing dates 45 days out instead of the standard 30 days we are accustomed to in Texas. Remember, closings are set to happen on or before to date in the contract, so if everyone is in compliance with the mandatory timelines we may be able to move the date up and close sooner. For now though, after October 3rd, closing timelines will be 45 days with few exceptions.  The changes are directed toward the lender and mortgage timeline.  Cash buyers would be an exception along with a few other specific loan programs.