Real Estate Blog

According to government statistics, 1,200,000 couples get divorced each year and a whopping 61 percent of all divorcees end up having to list their home for sale. This is an emotional and difficult time to need to sell a home. Keep calm, stay professional and negotiate with both spouses so you can help them to get the home sold and each of them can go their separate ways and start anew.

Get Everything in Writing Communicate to both parties via e-mail as much as possible, so there’s always a written record. For phone and in-person meetings, you will want to write down everything exactly as you are hearing it. This is a highly emotional situation, and you may be called to prove what you said or did not say. Keep Calm and Be Patient Realtors® are…

Victoria Reviel remembered how 20 years ago her husband opted to go further out from Austin and buy a four-bedroom house in Cedar Park. The price tag: $135,000. With Cedar Park blossoming into a city with numerous amenities and a tollway offering quick access to Austin, she said that same house sold in 2015 for $345,000. “It was considered rural North Austin 20 years ago,” she said. “Now look at Cedar Park.” Reviel, a real estate agent and president of the Williamson County Association of Realtors, said that spike in home value mirrors numbers released this month showing an ever-increasing jump in home prices in the Central Texas housing market. Data released by the Realtors association show that halfway into 2018, the average home price within Williamson…

Selling your home does not just mean hiring a 98th Meridian Realtor® to stick a sign out front. There are a lot of preparations YOU should make to ensure you get the best offer possible in the shortest time! Repair. Just because you’ve gotten used to the cracks in the walls and the rattles in the radiators doesn’t mean a buyer will too. If you have hardwood floors that need refinishing, be sure to get it done—hardwood is a huge selling point. Buyers like to snoop around, so be sure to fix any sticky doors or drawers as well. Finally, don’t forget to address any issues with the exterior—fences, shingles, sidewalks, etc. After all, without curb appeal, some buyers may never get to see the inside. Neutralize. You want buyers to see themselves in your home.…

Every house has a history, especially old or historic homes, but what if the house you’re trying to sell has a history that is a bit more…ghoulish than most? If you or your community believes a house is haunted, it can make selling a bit more difficult. However, there a several options for someone with a spooky property to sell. Just follow a few simple steps to get the haunted house off your hands. The first thing you will want to establish is if you are required to inform potential buyers of their future paranormal roommates. To answer that, you will want to consult your Williamson County Realtor® about your state’s disclosure laws. “Haunted houses fall into the category of stigmatized properties, said Victoria Reviel, 2018 President WCREALTORS®.

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Whether you are a first-time buyer or looking to move up to the home of your dreams, now is a great time to purchase a home. Here are three major reasons to buy today.

1. Affordability Many people focus solely on price when talking about home affordability. Since home prices have appreciated throughout the past year, they assume homes are less affordable. However, affordability is determined by three components: *Price *Wages *Mortgage Interest Rate Prices are up, but so are wages – and interest rates have recently dropped dramatically (see #2 below). As a result, the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) latest Affordability Index report revealed that homes are MORE affordable throughout the country today than they were a year ago. “All four regions…

When you are buying a home for the first time, you’re likely to run into many processes that you haven’t been through before. One of the most important parts of the purchasing process is your property inspection. It may seem daunting, but if you know your role and the role of others, it can make the process less stressful. Here is what you should expect for each role in the property inspection process.

The Buyer Your job will be to learn about the property during inspection. Before the inspection, you should prepare by looking over the property disclosures or any other building department documentation that you’ve received up until that point. Make a list of any questions or concerns you have about those documents and address any issues that the…

If you’re on the home-buying journey for the first time, you may have the image of the perfect home in mind. Every wall a color you love, the best flooring, and the perfect backyard. While there’s a chance you may find your dream house, it is more likely that you’ll find that house with a few exceptions. So where should you draw the line? Are there things you should ignore if the price and location are right? The answer is yes! There are some things you can ignore while home shopping if it means checking the rest of your boxes. Here are some of the things you can overlook if you are considering making an offer on a home that has the perfect location or layout.

WEIRD CARPET/WALLPAPER While it may be tempting to wait for a home with new carpet or freshly…