True Tales - Still options out there for Home Buyers!

Thought all was lost after the April 30 deadline for the "first time homebuyer tax credit?" So many people treated the end of that incentive like the Y2K experience of 10 years ago! Well, good news - it is still an awesome time to buy property, especially in TEXAS!! Here is one reason why -

The TDHCA Texas Homeownership Division is pleased to announce the release of $500 million in mortgage loan funds through the Texas First Time Homebuyer Program. It is anticipated this will help to open the door to homeownership for many low to moderate income homebuyers. Interest rates on these 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage loans will vary depending on the type of loan selected by the borrower. Two types of loans will be available under the program; assisted loans (currently 5.74%), which offer down payment and closing cost assistance up to 5% of the mortgage amount in the form of a 30-year repayable second lien; and unassisted loans (currently 4.99%), with no additional funds for down payment and closing cost assistance.

Interested in learning more about the program? Visit the program website www.MyFirstTexasHome.com or contact one of their area participating lenders.

See, the glass is ALWAYS half FULL!!!

True Tales: A Step Beyond

You never know....I have a dear client who has gone to New York state to care for her elderly mother. Her property is currently listed with me. By the way, the property is a fabulous condo in Twin Creeks....you should check it out on my website, www.cgliving.net. Anyway, she realized she left something important behind and needed my help. Of course! I could not find the item she needed in her house, but I went to a local store, found the item, purchased it, and shipped it to her in New York.

I reason for sharing this brief story is to express that REALTORS, the good ones, do a lot more for our clients that just put a sign and a lockbox at the property, stick it in MLS and hope it sells with no real contact with the owner. The good agents actually CARE for their clients and are ready to help a person in need - no matter what.

True Tales: What Else does your REALTOR do?

What a busy week - lots happening in Central Texas real estate. One of the things that I enjoy about my profession is the ability to give back to the industry. I serve on the Williamson County (Texas, of course, not Tennessee) Association of REALTORS Board of Directors. I am in my third year of service, and this year I am the Association's Treasurer. WCAOR is a fantastic organization whose mission is to serve agents in our area with education classes, networking opportunities, fun events, and business tools to be successful, ethical and informed REALTORS. Sure this role takes time and earns me no money, but it is so worth it. The partnerships I form make for easy business transactions for my clients! What else does your REALTOR do to give back?

True Tales - Leasing Process

Okay, so I don't do a lot of leasing, but I do handle lease listings and applications for my dearest clients and referrals. Right now, the leasing market in the Austin area is so HOT is it CRAZY!!! Literally homes are leasing in less than 3 days, sometimes the same day they go active. If there was ever a time to buy INVESTMENT PROPERTIES, this is it!!! Catch a deal on a house, get it ready to lease, price it well, and you'll have income, if you play your cards right. I have a terrific spreadsheet that I use for my clients to see if a home and area meets the right numbers. Want more info? Contact me!!

True Tales - Shopping in the Rain!

What a day today....great time with a dear client and her best friend from Bryan, TX. We shopped for homes despite sometimes some major downpours of rain. Sellers: remember to offer shoe covers or place signs on the front door to remind everyone to remove their shoes. We took our shoes off at EVERY home where it was really wet outside.

On a lighter note - we visited a home with a charming man inside who is moving out of the country. We were all kinda hungry and he had just cooked lunch. I think we were all thinking...."Humm, wonder if there are any leftovers?" because it smelled GREAT. One of us said, "That curry dish just smells amazing!". To which he said, "I just cooked Italian!". Well, maybe a secret ingredient in his pasta sauce is curry! No offense intended at all....but we really agree that we all smelled yummy curry! No matter what it was, I wish I had the recipe! :)

Second Edition: True Tales of Central Texas Real Estat

As REALTORS, we have to be the conductor orchestrating sometimes dozens of professionals to make a deal close. This includes the precious client, the hopefully precious lender, title company staff, inspectors, appraisers, insurance agents....the list goes on. Did you know that many transaction management check lists involve nearly 30 steps and checkpoints just to get a contract executed? That is just to cover the basics.... and doesn't include anything that the lender has to do!

So, here is an example. I am working with clients right now to purchase a HUD foreclosure. Believe me, the home is awesome...about three years old, great neighborhood, close to an elementary school, on a culdesac....the list goes on and on. Unfortunately the previous family could not maintain the payments. So, it landed in HUD's lap.

That's where the fun begins....the contract itself was simple enough. But then you can look forward to over 50 pages of closing docs that have layers upon layers of "to do" items. Don't you dare miss a signature, misspell something, or miss a date. You'll go to the bottom of the stack! The client only sees maybe less than 10% of the total paperwork, but we see it all! More to follow.....

First Edition of "True Tales of Central Texas Real Estate"

Ever wonder what really happens with a real estate transaction? Behind the scenes information and hilarious (well, that may be one way to describe it) stories that makes up a real estate deal? I will share, while keeping identities private and not violating the Code of Ethics, some insight into the behind the scenes action in real estate. It should be fun!