First time homebuyers, it’s time to GET OFF THE FENCE! SAVE SAVE SAVE

$8,000 FIRST TIME BUYER TAX CREDIT – CHECK RECEIVED !!!! 
  
 
This is an actual check from one of my First Time Buyers who bought a home last month, and immediately filed his 2008 tax return – which he had already filed an extension for – and this week received the above check !
 
… before his home [...]

Understanding Closing Costs in Texas

Closing costs generally range from 2% to 3% of your loan amount. Closing costs can be divided into three main categories:

Lender fees. Fees can include origination, points, application, credit report, and appraisal.
Third-party fees. These fees vary by state and the company you select to close your loan. They can include fees for closing, title exam, [...]

Austin, Texas, is No. 2 on the list of cities where Americans are relocating…

Top 5 cities where Americans are relocating
1. Raleigh, N.C.
2. Austin, Texas
3. Charlotte, N.C.
4. Phoenix, AZ
5. Dallas, Texas
Unemployment is on the rise, credit is tight and consumers aren’t spending — which means they aren’t picking up and moving much, either. Very few places in America saw significant population growth in 2008.
Despite the overall economic slowdown, some [...]

What makes a Great Real Estate Deal?

It sounds tired and cliché, but the tried and true adage of “location, location, location” still rings true today. Indeed, if you’re going to get into the foreclosure game, you’ve got to do your homework and buy smart.
Of course, a killer location is meaningless in terms of profit margin if you overpay. So you have [...]

Feng Shui Interior Design

Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese art and science that was developed some 3000 years ago to help people balance the energies in the places they lived. It’s pronounced Fung Shway and it translates to “Wind Water.” In Chinese culture, the elements play an important part in everyday life, as in wind and water that [...]

10 Things You Should Know Before Buying a Home

1. Before you start looking for a home, get pre-qualified for a loan. Banks, credit unions, and mortgage bankers make home loans; mortgage brokers process loans through a variety of lenders. The lenders will take an application, process the loan documents, and see the loan through to the funding stage.
2. If you have marginal or [...]

Hot Off the Press—DON’T MISS YOUR TAX CREDIT

First-time homebuyers should be very excited — the recent announcement of an $8,000 tax credit is great news.
Why?
Unlike its $7,500 predecessor, this tax credit does not have to be repaid. Furthermore, you may be eligible to get the cash even if you don’t owe the government any taxes. Also, you don’t technically have to be [...]

Austin’s Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure

Austin’s Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure Ordinance
 
Mayor Will Wynn and the Austin City Council created the ECAD ordinance or Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure Ordinance to “improve the energy efficiency of Austin homes and buildings that receive electricity from Austin Energy”. Additionally, it states that “the ordinance helps meet one of the goals of the [...]

Why Should I Invest in Real Estate?

Compared to other investments, real estate can provide much better yields.
By James Kimmons,
Most of the 1990’s, The Standard & Poors Index posted earning yields of 5% to 6% on average. At the same time, the dividend yields of the S & P were only around 2% or less. Since dividend paying stocks tend to be [...]

What you wore today, did you base it on the local forecast or the national forecast? WHY WOULD YOU BUY REAL ESTATE, DIFFERENTLY?!!?

“Remember, all real estate is local.  You don’t watch the weather in Boise, Idaho, to decide what to wear tomorrow, so why watch the national news to make your real estate decisions?  This is the message we need to get to the consumer.”  Texas is one of the hottest and strongest markets to buy in [...]