August 2011 Housing Trends Newsletter

Friends, the August 2011 edition of our popular Housing Trends Newsletter is now available for viewing. We've had some interesting ups and downs in the markets this summer - and it's important for you to know that this is a GREAT time to purchase real estate. When you combine the historic low interest rates with the outstanding selection of new and resale homes available in our market today - you can really benefit from the turbulence we have experienced for the past several years.

Who do you know that deserves our help buying or selling real estate in Austin and the surrounding areas? Please, don't keep us a secret!

Pear in the air!

Ok it's time for a cheesy REALTOR® recipe post. I love pears and I love Costco, so when I saw this in the Costco Connection magazine I figured it should be shared. Download the article here.

Enjoy!

Top 10 IRS Tax Tips for Home Sellers

When our clients are looking to sell their home we are often asked about the tax implications of the sale. While we always explain that we are prohibited from giving tax advice because it is outside the scope of our license, we also always work to be the source of the source of helpful information, and advise them to talk with one of our strategic alliance partners that is equipped to provide the professional advice they need.

That said, here's a great article highlighting the IRS' Top 10 Tax Tips for Home Sellers. Check it out here, and remember when you have friends and loved ones that are looking to buy or sell homes in Austin or the surrounding areas, please pick up your phone and call us - because you want them to be taken care of, don't you?

Top QR code reader apps

Lots of folks have been asking us what qr reader apps we recommend. Each of us at the company has a favorite, some of us are on the iOS platform and others on android. Our answer is usually "I personally use ______________" but encourage you to put your google goggles on and search for "best qr reader for (whatever phone they have)" and see what comes up.

Thanks to Inman News, here's an article with the Top 10 QR Code Readers for iOS devices. Check out the article and let us know what you think. AND, if you're aware of a similar list for android and *gasp* Blackberry, let us know!

By the way, when you run into someone that can use our help buying and selling real estate in the Austin area, please don't keep us a secret!

Austin Road Cycling Guide

Biking down the roads in Austin might not be your idea of fun during these 100+ degree days, but cooler temps will be here soon and you might decide this is something you'd like to try. Check out this great Austin Road Cycling Guide put together by our friends over at Gracy Title.

July Housing Trends Newsletter now available!

Check out the latest installment of our Housing Trends Newsletter here. Full of information and tips to help you be successful in today's real estate market.

Know someone wanting to buy or sell property in or near Austin? Please, don't keep us a secret!

The June Housing Trends Newsletter is here!

Check out the June edition of our Housing Trends Newsletter here! When you begin to think about buying or selling real estate, remember it is in your best interest to hire a qualified real estate professional. Pick up the phone and give us a call right away!

It's true!

We have been noticing a big shift in the rental market here in Austin for the past several months. Lease inventory is down significantly, landlords and property managers are becoming more and more difficult to work with and less willing to pay agents for bringing tenants, and the good lease properties are flying off the market.

Check out this article for a national perspective on this changing market. Typically when we see this shift in the leasing market we begin to see a positive shift in the sales market. The biggest challenge at this time is that buyers are having a very difficult time getting financing.

Do you know someone that is tired of making someone else's dreams come true by paying rent? Put them in touch with us and let's see what kind of progress we can make in helping their dreams of home ownership come true! Please, don't keep us a secret!

Another reason consumers need REALTORS®

It has been said that the internet would make it so REALTORS® are no longer needed. We learn every day that this simply isn't the case. The unfortunate part of this lesson, is that it usually comes at the expense of the public.

When there is a professional REALTOR® involved in a real estate transaction, whether it be a sale or a lease, you have a real person who is looking out for your best interest. As powerful as it is, the internet is just the internet. It doesn't care about your interests, your finances, your safety, or anything else having to do with you.

Check out this article from The Des Moines Register. The information posted on the internet was used to scam these folks out of nearly $2,000 dollars and could have resulted in even more problems for both the home owners and the family that wanted to least the home.

Stories like this make me consider eliminating all listing syndication from our company listings (listing syndication pushes our listings to dozens of real estate related websites). Yes the syndication gives "more exposure" for the listing, but I can tell you that in the six years of my real estate practice, not a single listing has sold because of this "exposure" - in fact, the "exposure" probably exposes our clients to scams like the one in the article.

If people would rely on the professionals, many of these scams would be avoided.

When you or someone you care about is about to buy, sell or lease a home, help them get the professional service they deserve by getting your phone out and putting them in touch with us right away. Because, they deserve to be taken care of, don't they?

The Texas Energy Star Sales Tax holiday is THIS weekend!

Just in from the Comptrollers Office:

Texas' fourth-annual ENERGY STAR Sales Tax Holiday this Memorial Day weekend is a great time to purchase new energy efficient appliances without paying state or local sales taxes on qualifying items.

"When you buy an appliance that is ENERGY STAR rated, you will not only save the sales tax, you will also save on your monthly utility bills by reducing your water and energy use," Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said.

Grow Your Energy Savings The ENERGY STAR Sales Tax Holiday begins on Saturday, May 28, at 12:01 a.m. and ends on Monday, May 30 (Memorial Day) at 11:59 p.m. The tax savings apply to the following appliances and household equipment bearing the ENERGY STAR label: central or room air conditioners priced at $6,000 or less, refrigerators priced at $2,000 or less, ceiling fans, compact fluorescent light bulbs; clothes washers, dishwashers, dehumidifiers and *programmable thermostats.

More information and frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the tax holiday are available at www.texaspowerfulsmart.org. For exemption information on associated fees, please see Delivery and Installation Charge FAQs.

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy for products that meet strict energy efficiency guidelines. Qualifying products display the ENERGY STAR logo on the appliance, the packaging or the Energy Guide label. Clothes dryers are not included in the sales tax holiday because they use similar amounts of energy; therefore, the program does not label clothes dryers. For details on products, visit www.energystar.gov.

* ENERGY STAR specification of programmable thermostats was suspended on December 31, 2009; however, any existing stock of ENERGY STAR labeled programmable thermostats offered for sale by retailers is still eligible for the exemption.