Advice 
Get advice on buying, selling and investing from Realty Austin's team of experts.
How to file for your Homestead Exemption in Austin
Sunday, January 8th, 2012 at 5:58pm. 909 Views, 0 Comments.
Homestead exemptions remove part of your home's value from taxation, which depending on the value of your home, could potentially save you thousands each year. If you want to receive a homestead exemption for the taxes on your home, your home must first qualify as a residence homestead on January 1 of the year in which you are applying.
There are two requirements:
1. You must own your home on January 1.
2. You must use the home as your principal residence on January 1.
A state law that took effect on September 1, 2011 has changed proof of residency requirements for homeowners applying for the property tax homestead exemption.
It's vital that home buyers update their address on their driver's license, and with the tax assessor/collector in their area in…
What to Look for in a Custom Home Builder
Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012 at 11:22am. 312 Views, 0 Comments.
This guest post was provided by VIP Realty, a San Antonio real estate firm.
If you are looking for custom home builders, there are a number of things you should look for and a number of questions you should ask:
- Licensing Custom home builders should be licensed by the state. In order to be qualified for a…
5 Outdoorsy Things to Do In Austin
Friday, December 16th, 2011 at 8:59am. 1160 Views, 0 Comments.
Austin: The town that never gets bored. That’s our new motto for the most wonderful city on earth. Our friends at Texas Outside know why – Austin is filled with fantastic things to see and do all year long. From food festivals to bat watching, Austinites have got it made when it comes to exciting recreational activities. Now that winter has arrived it may seem that there’s not much to do, but the truth is that there is plenty of fun to be had indoors and out. Check out Texas Outside’s top 5 picks for fun winter activities.
Realty Austin fastest growing Brokerage in Austin
Monday, November 21st, 2011 at 9:27pm. 684 Views, 0 Comments.
Its not often that we toot our own horn, but we just got our hands on some statistical software that allowed us to compare our sales with our competition for the first time. We knew we were doing well, but we had no idea just how well.
We compared our year over year sales increase with that of our competitors, and the results are amazing.
We grew our sales 111%, which was an increase of more than $183M. To put that in perspective, of the top 10 local brokerages, our closest competitor only grew by 30% and $40M.
So how did we do it?
1 - Hire the best agents in Austin. We grew our team by 40%, but we increased our sales by 111% by hiring some of the highest producing agents in Austin. On average, our 110 agents each have more than 10 years of…
Fall Yard Care Tips by Kaplan Gordon
Thursday, November 17th, 2011 at 6:34pm. 596 Views, 1 Comments.
It's fall and while the weather perfect, the yard is a mess. Taking care of your lawn can be easier said than done. For those homeowners with yards, here's Kaplan Gordon's fall yard care tips to help you work smarter, not harder, this fall season.
Buying vs. Renting: What to do in 2011
Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 at 2:39pm. 868 Views, 0 Comments.
This post is brought to you by our friends at Shaddock Homes, a family homebuilding company known for distinctive designs, superior craftsmanship, and homeowner satisfaction in Dallas, TX.
When it comes to homes, the buying vs. renting decision seems to be constantly on everyone’s mind. And since the real estate and mortgage markets are constantly changing, it’s important to revisit this choice often. Here are some of the things to consider when trying to decide whether to buy or rent your home in 2011.
- Mortgage Rates: Mortgage rates are hitting all-time lows, which can be quite an incentive for potential homeowners. If you have good credit, and understand the financial responsibilities of owning a home, now may be a great time for you to buy a…
How to Save Your Lawn During a Drought
Tuesday, September 6th, 2011 at 10:05am. 906 Views, 0 Comments.
Due to the harsh drought in Central Texas this summer, the City Of Austin has implemented Stage 2 watering restrictions for residential homeowners and commercial customers with violations of an official warning followed by a $475 fine if the violation is not corrected.
The mandatory restrictions inlcude the following:
- Watering allowed 1 day per week for all Austin Water customers
- Hand-watering allowed anytime
- No automatic-irrigation after 10 a.m. on designated watering day
- Vehicle washing on designated day before 10 a.m.
- No charity car washes
- No automatic fill valves for pools or ponds
- No outdoor fountains except to provide aeration for aquatic life
- No water to be served at restaurants unless requested
- No washing of sidewalks, driveways,…
Beat The Heat and Those Power Bills Too!
Friday, August 12th, 2011 at 1:57pm. 666 Views, 1 Comments.
This post was provided by our friends at BuyIdahoRealEstate.com, an Idaho real estate website.
When the summer months arrive, utility bills soar about as high as the temperatures, putting the squeeze on pocket books everywhere. With your air conditioner running like a jet engine to keep up with the heat waves it might as well be a money shredder. Some have even seen mirages of dollar bills flying out of their air conditioner when temperatures reach their peak. So what kinds of air conditioners are right for Austin homes? How can families stay cool in the summer without having to drain their savings?
What types of air conditioners are available?
- Single Package Central Air Conditioners are mounted on a buildings roof or a wall. They are common in the…
When and how to protest your Central Texas Property Taxes
Monday, May 9th, 2011 at 9:58am. 3765 Views, 4 Comments.
Even though median home prices saw a 1.6% overall increase from last year in Central Texas, values may have dropped 10% or more in some Central Texas MLS areas, according to recent information from the Austin Board of REALTORS.
A record number of property owners protested their tax valuations in 2010 & 2011 should be no different. The following information will serve as an outline protesting your property taxes:
Why is tax-assessed value different than market value?
The tax-assessed value is what your county believes your property is worth. The county attempts to set their values at a market value. However, they do not evaluate comparables nor do they perform individual market analysis on every home. The county simply values your home according to the area,…
Tips for Choosing a Home Builder in Austin
Tuesday, April 26th, 2011 at 12:04pm. 2733 Views, 2 Comments.
Our friends at Jenkins Custom Homes, an Austin custom home builder company, provided this blog post:
Choosing a home builder can be daunting. Within the custom home industry, there are a wide variety of people who call themselves custom home builders. From the “Chuck in a truck” – essentially a person with a truck and a business card – to those who have years of experience, all have the right to call themselves custom home builders according to Texas law. The Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC) – created for the purpose of protecting consumers – was discovered to be functioning “as a homebuilder protection agency” – and then was subsequently shut down in September 2010. There is currently no formal governing body over residential…
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