Founded in 1839, Austin is rich in
history. The capital city of Texas has a lot to offer when it comes to taking a look back into the past. One of the best ways to do this is by checking out some of the historic houses around the city.
Texas Governor's Mansion The Governor's Mansion in Austin, Texas, is the official residence of the Governor of Texas. This mansion, erected in 1854, has served as the residence of every governor since that year. The mansion was severely damaged after a Molotov cocktail sparked an arson fire on June 8, 2008. In 1856, Abner Cook finished this Greek Revival structure in the middle of a block, surrounded by trees and gardens. A 6,000-square-foot home once stood here. During the year 1914, it had significant renovations, increasing its size to 8,920 square feet. There were eleven rooms in the original mansion, but there were no bathrooms. After the renovations, there are now 25 rooms and 7 bathrooms in the house. The Board of Mansion Supervisors was founded in 1931 by the 42nd Texas Legislature on the advice of former Texas First Lady Mildred Paxton Moody to oversee all mansion maintenance and improvements, both inside and outside.
The Fischer House The Fischer House was built in 1882 and is a historic home in the heart of downtown Austin. As a notable Austin mason at the time of construction, Joseph Fischer's high Victorian era Italianate architecture and embellishments represent the family's expertise in their trade. 1008 West Avenue is the address of the property. On December 16, 1982, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Robinson-Macken House In west downtown Austin, at 702 Rio Grande, you'll find the Robinson-Macken House, an incredible historic landmark. Designed in Second Empire style architecture with Italianate details, this 2.5 story farm home was built in 1876 for Elizabeth and John Robinson Sr. The mansion, built by the local prominent Bremond family, is located in the original 1839 Austin town plan created by Edwin Waller. Style-wise, it resembles the Bremond home, which has been conserved as part of the Bremond Block Historic District. Eugene Robinson, a Robinson descendant, bought the property from the other heirs in 1902. In 1928, Joe and Bridget Macken purchased the house, and it stayed in their family until 1983. Austin had two community leaders: John Robinson, who served as chief of the volunteer fire department, and Joe Macken, who served as an alderman. In addition to projecting bay windows with classical details, exquisite milled wood accents, and dormer windows, the l-plan Robinson-Macken house also has a mansard roof.
John Bremond House Austin's Bremond Block Historic District consists of eleven historic homes built between the 1850s and 1910, including The John Bremond House. Only a few upper-class Victorian districts from the mid-to-late nineteenth century are left in Texas, this block being one of them, earned it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. Brothers Eugene and John Bremond, well-known in Austin's social, commercial, and banking circles in the late nineteenth century, commissioned the construction or expansion of six residences for their families. All four of these buildings are in the same square block on the west side of Guadalupe Street. At least three of the residences in the neighborhood, including those on San Antonio's west and south sides, were built or altered by the North Family.
Henry Hirshfeld House and Cottage In Austin's historic district, the Henry Hirshfeld House and Cottage were formerly home to the influential Hirshfeld family. Henry and his wife Jennie lived in the 1873 cottage until 1885 when they moved into the larger house. The residences have been well-preserved and are now home to the Texas A&M University System's Office of Governmental Relations. The structures were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Architecturally, the Henry Hirshfeld House combines elements of Victorian and Eastlake styles. It was designed and built by John Andrewartha. A double gallery, a bay, stretched glass, elegant woodwork, and delicate limestone details adorn the exterior of the building. Shortly after the main house was finished, the two-story stick-style carriage house went up on the property. In 1873, Hirshfeld commissioned the construction of a one-story stone cottage for his family. The porch has jigsaw woodwork, and the roof has a widow's walk. A rental cottage was kept as soon as the family relocated to their new home in 1888 on the neighboring east lot.
O. Henry Museum When William Sydney Porter, better known as O. Henry, lived here, this property was a historic tiny Victorian cottage in Downtown Austin. The cottage was constructed in 1886 and featured a simplified interpretation of the Eastlake Style. Porter and his family lived there from 1893 to 1895 before moving to Houston, when Porter began working full-time as a journalist for the Houston Post. Even though O. Henry was most known for novels that were written in North Carolina, he also wrote 42 stories that were published in the Lone Star State. Before 1930, the house had been used as a rental property and soon demolished to make way for a warehouse. Several women's organizations banded together in January 1934 to propose to the Austin City Council: If the city accepted and relocated the house as a donation from Austin Rotary, the women's organizations would restore it and open it as a "shrine." The proposal was rejected, but a few years later, the Austin Rotary Club donated the house to the city. It was transferred from its original location on East 4th Street to Brush Square, 409 East 5th Street, where it was repaired and inaugurated as a museum in 1934, thanks to the efforts of the City of Austin. Some of Porter's personal things, books, papers, and photographs document his time in Austin and are currently displayed among many other historical artifacts. In 1994–95, the roof was replaced, and four brick chimneys that had been lost in 1934 were replaced on the building. On June 18, 1973, the Porter House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The O. Henry Museum presently hosts the annual O. Henry Pun-Off, a spoken pun competition, the first weekend of May every year. The museum was named after American author O. Henry.
Susanna Dickinson Museum Historical monument and last remaining dwelling of Susanna Dickinson, dubbed "Messenger of the Alamo" and built in the "rubble-rock" architectural style popularized by German immigrants to Texas' Hill Country. After surviving the Alamo's bloody battle, she delivered to Sam Houston the news of its collapse, which helped Houston beat Santa Anna in the Battle of San Jacinto and secure Texas' independence. Susanna's husband, Joseph Hannig, built the house in 1869. In honor of Susanna Dickinson Hannig's heroics, the place she and her husband built in Austin in the early 1900s was deeded to the city in 2003 and has since been restored and opened as a museum on Texas Independence Day, March 2, 2010. Rare Dickinson family heirlooms and Hannig furniture can be found inside the museum. Before 1875, the couple had lived in this residence for six years before relocating to Hyde Park. Brush Square Museums, including the O. Henry Museum and the Austin Fire Museum, houses the museum. There is a magnificent museum on the Alamo grounds where you may be shown around and hear from the brave Alamo soldiers who survived the battle.
Brizendine House The Brizendine House, built in 1870 in the heart of downtown Austin, is a historic landmark. An extension to the Travis County Courthouse and the Blackwell/Thurman Criminal Justice Center now surround the structure on 11th Street in Austin. In 1974, the home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This basic vernacular rough ashlar house illustrates the way of life of an Austin working-class family in the late nineteenth century. The building's exterior proportions are clearly influenced by Victorian architecture. An Austin carpenter, machinist, and miller named John R. Brizendine (1829–1914) used limestone to construct the structure around 1870. Brizendine was a native of Kentucky who settled in Austin and worked on the building until his death. Family members stayed in the house until 1972 after Mrs. Elizabeth Gordon bought it in 1928.
Littlefield House There's a lot of history behind this house on the UT Austin campus. It was erected in 1893 for Civil War veteran and philanthropist George Littlefield. It cost $50,000 at the time to create it in the fashionable Victorian style. When the Littlefields lived in the house, they donated a lot of money to the university, which they used to build the Littlefield Fountain, the Main Building, and the Littlefield Dormitory, among other things. The Littlefield Building in downtown was created by them as well, and they completed it in 1912. Alice Littlefield left the deed to the house to the university when she died in 1935. The university uses the ground floor for university functions, and the Office of University Events utilizes the second floor. In 1970, it was included on the National Register of Historic Places as a result of its historical significance. Dive Deeper In this post, we only touched the surface of the history behind the roots of Austin. Many of these places offer tours and walkthroughs where you can dive deeper into the history!
Virtual tours have already given buyers a glimpse of the house, so if you want people to check out the inside, the perimeter of the home must look as good or better than the pictures. Fix cracks in the driveway and walkway. Paint or stain railings, shutters, and doors. 
In a shareholder meeting, Elon Musk announced Tesla's headquarters would be moving from California to Austin, Texas. Musk's concerns with operating out of California were the expensive housing costs for employees and limited land for expansion. These reasons, along with a distaste for business restrictions imposed on the company by California, have fueled (or should we say charged) the move. It is important to note that Elon stated Tesla isn't entirely leaving California. They will still run operations out of the golden state. However, Texas will see a majority of production and expansion from the electric car company. What will this Mean for the Austin Real Estate Market? With Austin already experiencing an enormous housing market boom, it's interesting to question what kind of further impact this move will have. Many other large companies are building in or moving to Austin, such as Oracle, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Canva, and SpaceX. These and others will be accelerating the economy further and continue to increase the cost of living in our city. Even at all-time highs, it is a great time to begin investing in the Austin Real Estate market. With all the expansion and growth the city is seeing, it only makes sense for the market to follow. If you're curious about your options when it comes to buying in Austin, feel free to reach out by filling out the form below!
Austin has seen a crazy uptrend in residents over the past decade. A lot of people are wondering, what exactly is drawing all of these people to this city? The more you learn about Austin, the more it makes sense. While of course, this city won't be the right fit for everyone, Austin has a lot to offer. It's Less Expensive than other Major Cities Many of the people relocating to Austin are coming from cities such as Los Angeles and New York. Coming from cities like these, the prices are a lot more reasonable in comparison. People are finding more for their money while still living in a large growing city. The Weather is Gorgeous With an average of 228 sunny days a year, Austin is a great place to live if you enjoy warm weather and outdoor activities. In fact, it's listed as one of the sunniest cities in America! During the Summer season, the heat is no joke, but the Spring, Fall, and Winter seasons are absolutely heavenly thanks to the mild temperatures and golden sunshine. There's an Abundance of Outdoor Activities The beautiful weather we have here in Austin helps make outdoor activities a lot more enjoyable and available. We have a very active scene of runners, hikers, bikers that take advantage of the many trails and parks that are nestled in the city. And when the heat becomes too much, there are many ways to cool off such as visiting our local spring-fed pools, paddleboarding on lady Bird Lake, or heading out to Lake Travis. Employment Opportunities are Plentiful Austin is finding a lot of companies relocating to the city, some notable names include Oracle, Google, and Tesla. What makes Austin desirable for companies is lower housing costs and tax rates compared to other big cities, and Texas has more relaxed regulations for companies. The Locals are Genuinely Friendly One thing that often surprises a lot of people when visiting here is how friendly everyone is. With a population of just over 1 million, Austin is not a small city. However, Austinites have a way of really making you feel welcomed and important. The Food is Incredible Austin has consistently found itself placed high on lists rating the best food cities in America. The two holy grails of Austin are Tex-Mex and Barbeque with endless options scattered around the city. Another thing we're well known for is a lively food truck scene. Some of the best meals in the city can be found here so be sure to give them a try. Lively Music Scene The music scene we have here attracts a lot of visitors. You can experience live music in theatres, bars, restaurants, and even out on the street. We are also home to festivals such as SXSW and Austin City Limits. No State Income Tax One of the biggest financial perks to moving to Austin is taking advantage of Texas' no state income tax. This is huge for people moving from states with extremely high state income tax rates such as California.
Technology has changed the real estate industry tremendously over the years. With the majority of people doing their search from the comfort of home, you may ask yourself if holding an open house is worth it. While having an aggressive online strategy and stunning photos are important, there are still some huge advantages to this old-school method. Let’s start by answering some common questions. Will an Open House Sell my Home? It’s unlikely for an open house alone to sell a home. People don’t just walk into a house with a briefcase full of cash and close on the spot. However, coupled with the rest of a solid marketing plan, they can be extremely valuable. Two important things will be generated, attention and interest. Are Open Houses Worth it? Knowing an open house won’t sell your home on its own, you may ask yourself if it’s worth doing. If you only hold an open house and don't back it up with any other marketing methods, it will be easy to get lost in the current real estate market. From what our team has found, open houses are still very much worth the time when paired with the rest of our aggressive online strategy. Below are some reasons why open houses are worth it. There are many buyers who many not want to book a private showing with an agent and prefer the relaxed nature of an open house. Open houses provide us with an opportunity to receive instant feedback about the home which helps with making any necessary changes. Open houses are a great time to share with friends and family who can then mention the listing to people they know are looking for a home. Neighbors may drop in and also mention it to someone after seeing signage outside. You can set the scene and ensure your home is show ready, unlike when people drop in on short notice with traditional showings. Things to Take Care of Before Showings Before you let prospective buyers walk through your home, it's best to make sure everything is in presentable condition. Starting with The Exterior Give the lawn a fresh cut Trim your trees and shrubs Wash all windows inside and out Sweep the sidewalks and driveway Moving to The Kitchen Declutter and clean all kitchen countertops Take down any notes, photos, and magnets from the refrigerator Make your cabinets, sinks, appliances, and floors sparkle with a good wipe down Patch/paint walls and ceilings Moving to The Bathrooms Eliminate any unnecessary items from your countertops Organize closets and cabinets Give the sinks, toilets, floors, bathtubs, and showers a deep clean Heading to the Living Areas Clean up piles of magazines and newspapers from tables Clean floors, light fixtures, and furniture Patch/paint walls and ceilings Double Check Before Showings Before buyers come into your doors, make sure to do a double-check and complete last-minute touches to keep your home looking great! Pick up after your pets Clear off your driveway and sidewalks Open your curtains to let the sunshine in When the weather allows, open your windows to let in some fresh air Tidy up anything you missed
An increase in mortgage rates and rising housing costs are important things to look at when determining when to buy a home. Some recent forecasts of mortgage rates in 2022 show an increase from the lows we are currently at. These were estimated by researchers within Freddie Mac as well as the Mortgage Bankers Association. 2022 Mortgage Rate Forcast In July of 2021, the economic research team from Freddie Mac predicted mortgage rates in the U.S. would gradually rise through the end of this year and into 2022. At the time of this prediction, rates were hovering around 2.8%. Their forecast is estimating a slow rise for 30-year fixed home loans to around 3.8% by the end of 2022. This rise may seem insigificant to some, but if you run the numbers it makes a big difference in what you'll end up paying in interest. While this is just the prediction of one group, a very notable one, we've seen similar predictions from many economists and research groups. The Mortgage Bankers Association, mentioned earlier, has recently predicted that 30-year fixed home loans could even rise above 4% next year. Overall, we're seeing a trend of predictions showing an increase in rates. What is Driving up the Rates? Often when talking about rising rates, the Federal Reserve and their policies will be attributed to influencing mortgage rates. While their influence can be a factor, they do not control them directly. Things to keep an eye on are rising inflation and economic growth. Looking at historical data, rates tend to trend upward along with inflation and over the past months we've seen a rise in inflation. On top of this we are currently experiencing economic growth within the U.S. as a whole. This can also apply upward pressure on interest rates. Concerns of Rising Home Prices We've seen a tremendous rise in home value over the past year. This is a concern for some wondering if the trend will continue, level out, or even crash. While nobody can say for sure, it's more than likely we won't see a significant crash in prices, but there is an expectation from them to level off. However, waiting for this correction could mean more lost money through interest in the rising mortgage rates. For example let's take the average sold price in Austin, TX as of August 2021 at $656,784. At a 20% downpayment you're looking at a loan amount of $525,427. 
Selling your home may already seem like a lot to manage, so things like staging may seem like extra unnecessary work. Buyers however want to move somewhere they can imagine themselves living in and Kathleen from 
As you can see, staging can greatly transform a space and give it a completely new feeling. Contact us below to see how you can best optimize your home when it comes to selling!
One of the first steps you must take when putting your home up for sale is to determine what to price it. There are many tools online that can come up with a number, however, they usually aren't very accurate. These estimates can be a good starting point, but it's best to take more time when selling your largest asset. The algorithms used for these evaluators only take into account the data they have available to them. They overlook important factors about your home such as the condition, upgrades, location, and unique features. This is why we recommend you to go over everything with a professional. The best way for you to determine what your home is worth is to work with an experienced REALTOR® that understands the local market, and perform a comparative market analysis. Comparative Market Analysis 101 So what is a comparative market analysis or CMA exactly? A CMA is a method of estimating what a home is worth by comparing similar properties and recent sales in the immediate area of your home. This will give your agent a good idea of what your home can be listed for. What should your CMA Include? A comparative market analysis will usually include around four similar properties to your home. These will be homes that have similar features, recently sold, and in the same area as yours. You will receive the sold price of the mentioned properties along with a proposed listing price for your own. Along with this you may expect to get other market data like pricing trends and the average amount of days to sell. Are CMA's accurate? Comparative market analysis' are a great tool to use and often extremely accurate. However, It's not a guarantee that your home will sell at that price. The accuracy will depend on the comps chosen by your agent. This is why it's very important to work with someone that is experienced. Ideally you want the comps to be as similar as possible with precise adjustments made based on any differences and unique features. Keep in mind though, the market is everchanging and the final sale price will likely differ. Steps to Performing a CMA 1. List the Main Features of Your Home Before we start finding properties that are comparable to yours, we need to understand the main features of your home which includes: Square Footage The # of Bathrooms and Bedrooms The location Year Built The Lot Size School District Additional Features (Swimming Pool, Garage, Etc.) After we get a good idea of these features, we can move on to analyzing the overall location of the property. 2. Analyze your Neighborhood Location is key when it comes to determining the value of a property. Being located close to large shopping centers or a desirable school district will add value to a home. On the other hand, being close to a main highway or railroad track may decrease the value due to noise and privacy concerns. An agent will make sure to take everything surrounding your home into account before finding comparable homes. 3. Assess the Condition of Your Home Besides looking at the location and general information about the home, your agent will be sure to take into account the condition of your home. Walking through the property in person will help to truly understand the condition of the property and how that will affect the way buyers gauge value. Critical parts of the house include plumbing, electrical, the roof, and appliances. Anticipating repairs or replacements to any of these could cause a reason to decrease the overall price. 4. Create a List of Comparable Properties and Average the Price With all this information about your property gathered, it's now time to find comparables. Most agents, including our team, will use the local MLS to begin the search. The MLS (Multiple Listing Service) platform, can only be accessed by agents that are current members of their local association of REALTORS®. Your agent will begin creating a list of homes with the following: The same number of Bedrooms and Bathrooms Similar Square Footage Same Number of Stories Similar Location and Lot Size Similar Features and Upgrades Similar Build Date Same School District With a solid list together that fits the criteria above, you will usually be presented with a list of the top three closest matching homes. Ideally, you'll want more to compare, but three is generally a good sample size. From here we can calculate the price per square foot based on the sales prices and find the average of the three. Then by multiplying the average price per square foot by the square footage of your home we find a potential starting price point for your home. 5. Fine-Tune With our first number calculated from the comparables, we should now fine-tune it a bit to be more accurate with our assessment. We will revisit unique features or gaps in comparison to move the price to reflect the actual value of your home.
1. Improve the Appearance How your home looks from the street, otherwise known as curb appeal, is your first chance to make a good impression on prospective buyers. A home’s exterior needs to make a potential buyer feel the urge to walk through the front door and see the rest of the property. Speaking of front doors, a good place to start is to refresh that old door to look newer and more inviting. Be sure your current landscaping is well-maintained. Compare your yard to your neighbors to see if yours looks dull in comparison. Consider planting flowers, trimming your greenery, and refreshing your lawn. With the exterior in check, it’s time to focus on the kitchen and bathroom. These two rooms can keep a property from reaching its highest valuation when they’re outdated. However, major updates usually aren’t necessary. A minor kitchen remodel has been found to recoup more cost in added value versus a major remodel. Consider repainting the walls, refinishing the cabinets, updating hardware, installing new flooring or countertops, upgrading light fixtures, and adding a backsplash. The same is true for bathrooms. Performing a midrange remodel with new flooring and a few updated fixtures will deliver better returns than a more upscale remodel. So hold the heated flooring, custom cabinets, and designer fixtures. Overall the rest of the house can find an improvement by repainting walls, replacing flooring or carpet, and keeping a clean well-maintained look. 2. Make it Easy to Maintain Many home buyers' main concern about buying a home is that it will need constant maintenance or major repairs in the future. By replacing a major component before putting it up for sale, you can alleviate some of this fear and help attain a higher sale price. Things like the furnace, water heater, and even the roof can be a good place to start. Improvements that make the house easy to clean and maintain can increase the home value as well. An easily stained carpet can be replaced with hardwood floors and high-maintenance wood siding can be replaced with vinyl siding. 3. Increase Efficiency Energy conservation features can have a significant impact on home value, the infamous Austin, TX heat can have a large impact on energy expenditure. Energy-efficient mortgages or EEMs allow borrowers to take on additional debt to cover energy-efficient upgrades on top of the purchase of the home. EEMs can also make it easy to get lower mortgage rates and increase your purchasing power, according to Energy.gov. Consider installing double-pane windows, enhancing attic insulation, using LED lighting, and installing energy-efficient appliances to increase home value and attract energy-efficient buyers. A step further could involve putting solar panels on the roof. Our agents have found solar panels to increase the perceived value of the home to energy-conscious buyers. With the large financial and structural commitment they come with, it only makes sense for increasing the value over the long term, don’t expect a quick boost in value. You can schedule an assessment with a certified energy auditor or your utility company to see where your home is wasting energy and understand which updates will save you money and increase your homes’ value. 4. Improve the Size of the Space Square footage has a substantial impact on value. In fact, price per square foot is one way we help clients compare homes that are similar in style and upgrades. Larger homes often command larger values. Even if an appraiser doesn’t officially acknowledge the full value of added space, a buyer will likely take notice and increase their desire. The most obvious way to make your house bigger is to add a room, but that’s not always an option. Creating additional living space by finishing the basement or building a deck can be a more simple way to achieve a similar outcome. 5. Add Smart Tech Gadgets that enhance the safety of the home top the list of “smart” technologies buyers want in their new homes. These safe and smart devices include things like thermostats, fire detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, security cameras, door locks, and lights. We find that while these devices won’t always directly add value to the home, they can increase the appeal to a prospective buyer over other homes. Those who describe themselves as “tech-savvy” are more likely to pay more to have this smart tech. Usually installing gadgets like these is relatively cheap and easy to do compared to other home improvements.
Now that you’ve found the house of your dreams, all of the hard work is done, right? Not exactly. Before you submit an offer, you should carefully consider a few factors to be competitive in this market. The Austin market is hot right now so more care needs to be taken when making this decision. Let’s discuss some of the most important factors when it comes to determining your offer. To be straightforward, the most important factor you will have to consider is the price. Figuring out what to offer can be difficult for home-buyers. Luckily, our team of specialists have a lot of success in helping buyers present the best offer. To start, you can ask these 4 questions below: 1. What have similar homes in the area sold for? The best way to start is to compare the home you want to homes in the area. Comparables are a group of recent, similar, and nearby home sales that you can use to help price the home you want. When comparing you’ll want to make sure they have very similar criteria like the ones below: Location of Construction Bedroom and Bathroom Count Square Footage Condition Comparing these together with the house you’re looking at will help give you a good idea of a general offer. Your buying specialist will be able to help you pull this information and compare it with you. Their experience will also help with narrowing the number down further. 2. How long has this particular home been on the market? The amount of time a home has been sitting on the market may be something to take notice of when coming up with your offer. Right now, houses have been moving quickly so it’s less likely you’ll be able to work with the price. The longer a house has been on the market, the more potential you have for lowering your offer. It’s best to have a discussion with your buying specialist on what route to take. 3. What’s the condition of the home? This is a little more obvious, but the condition that the property is in will have an effect on what you should offer. Homes that are more turn-key or move-in ready won’t provide much potential here. However, fixers and rehab properties may be nice opportunities to bring the value down through negotiation. Your buyer's specialist will be looking for things like this when determining your offer. Some things you can be on the lookout for structurally include: A Droopy or Broken Roof Cracks within the Foundation Rusty Plumbing Water Stains on Walls Warped or Uneven Floors Damage from Pest Infestations A lot of issues can be hard to identify on your own, which is why you should reach out to your buying specialist. They will make sure to request disclosures from the selling agent to check for any reports or inspections that could indicate problems that aren’t visible in a walkthrough. Be wary though, these disclosures usually just document issues known to the seller. Our specialists will do more investigation to ensure any potential issues are found. 4. How flexible are you on price? In this market, if you aren’t prepared to pay over asking it will be very difficult to be competitive. Most houses are going for over asking price within a few days, so you must budget extra and expect to pay more. However, you may be able to make your offer more favorable in a few other ways such as: Contingencies Closing Schedule Rent Backs Closing Prices Some sellers may accept a lower-priced offer if something from one of these categories interests them. For example, a seller might prefer to close on the house sooner rather than accept a larger offer closing later. Talk with your buying specialist to find how to make your offer as enticing as possible. Final Thoughts All in all, the goal is for your offer to be accepted, and to close on the house of your dreams. It can be tough to draft the perfect offer, however, with the right team behind you it can be done with a lot more success. Our team has several seasoned buyer specialists that can help guide you in this process with ease. If you have any questions about buying in Austin you can contact us below.
Halloween may have passed but we aren’t yet rid of monsters this holiday season. Most of us enjoy showering our loved ones with gifts during the holidays and take advantage of Black Friday deals to make that happen. Right now you may be wondering what your options are this year to snag that air fryer your spouse hasn’t stopped talking about. Clearly crowds won’t be breaking down storefront doors but don’t fret just yet, retailers won’t let COVID be the Grinch of holiday savings in 2020. While the world has been battling job loss and financial uncertainty, it’s no wonder the retail industry has had a difficult year. Plagued by supply-chain issues, worker-safety concerns, and shipping delays, some sectors have faced impossible-to-meet demand while most have starved over record low sales. Forty retail companies, and counting, have filed for bankruptcy in 2020, leaving those remaining hungry for your support! Anxious to capitalize on the roughly $729 billion spent in 2019 from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday, wholesalers have wiped their previous Black Friday strategies clean and prepared all new safe shopping experiences for you! So update your Wi-Fi and grab your laptop because retailers, the CDC, and your loved ones are all encouraging you shop your deals online this November. Online deals include: Amazon’s Holiday Dash sales are live now through November 19 when their Black Friday deals will take over. Best Buy deals are in full swing offering discounts on TVs, laptops, Apple products, major appliances, and more. Shoppers who sign up for the retailer’s free My Best Buy loyalty program will get early access to thousands of additional early Black Friday deals November 16 and 17. Walmart is hosting a whopping three early sale events before Black Friday. The first kicked off November 4 on Walmart.com, with additional deals added November 7 online and in stores. The second sale begins online November 11 at 7 p.m. EST, with more deals available online and in stores on November 14. The final event begins online November 25 before proceeding with additional deals online and in store November 27. Target is adding deals each week and has extended the 14-day Price Match Guarantee so if you purchase something that drops in price, you can request a price adjustment through December 24. Lowes is rolling out one-day, online-only sales, dubbed “Cyber Steals,” each day from now through December 2. Home Depot is running Black Friday deals through December 2. Macy’s will offer their deals beginning November 16 through the 28. Costco launched its Holiday Savings event on November 5, featuring early Black Friday-level pricing for members both in-store and online. Nordstrom is waiting to announce their deals till actual Black Friday (27th). But what about all those loyal in-store shoppers who need to see and feel an item before they buy? You are not left in the dust! In addition to the COVID safety measures we already see in brick-and-mortar stores such as plexiglass barriers and hand sanitizing stations, local businesses are offering appointments to limit the amount of physical shoppers, emphasizing curbside pickup and delivery, and some are even setting up a virtual queuing system so you can pick out your favorite items before you hit the stores. Speaking of shopping locally, smaller businesses don’t enjoy the same resources as major brands so be conscious of where you spend your money during these trying times. If you somehow manage to get off the couch after Thanksgiving dinner and venture off to the to the mall for early shopping, wear your stretchy pants this year because you’ll have more time for dessert! To keep you safe, many stores will not open on Thanksgiving Day including Best Buy, Target, and Walmart so make sure you check store hours online. Flatscreens, robot vacuums, gaming consoles, new appliances, kitchenware, tools, smart devices, trendy toys…. all of your most wanted holiday gifts are still within reach. As long as you keep up with your favorite stores and allow for plenty of shipping time, you’ll score some huge Black Friday deals this year! So spoil yourself, spoil your family, and spoil your coworkers because everyone has earned a little extra holiday cheer. Well, what are you waiting for? Start shopping now!
Jack-o-lanterns, stuffed turkeys, Fraser Fir trees…the holiday season is in full swing! For the next several months you’ll be busy decorating your home, serving up traditional recipes, and Zooming family; but one thing that may not be on your mind is selling your house! Read on for eleven reasons (compiled by Keller Williams Realty) you NEED to clear some time to call a realtor this season: 11. By selling now, you may have an opportunity to be a noncontingent buyer during the spring, when many more houses are on the market for less money! This will allow you to sell high and buy low! 10. You can sell now for more money and we will provide for a delayed closing or extended occupancy until early next year! 9. Even though your house will be on the market, you still have the option to restrict showings during the six or seven days around the holidays! 8. January is traditionally the month for employees to begin new jobs. Since transferees can’t wait until spring to buy, you need to be on the market during the holidays to capture that market! 7. Some people must buy before the end of the year for tax reasons! 6. Buyers have more time to look for a home during the holidays than they do during a working week! 5. Buyers are more emotional during the holidays, so they are more likely to pay your price! 4. Houses show better when decorated for the holidays! 3. Since the supply of listings will dramatically increase in January, there will be less demand for your particular home! Less demand means less money for you! 2. Serious buyers have fewer houses to choose from during the holidays and less competition means more money for you! And the number one reason why your seller should list during the holidays … 1. People who look for homes during the holidays are more serious buyers! With the right décor and a highly motivated buyer, Christmas could come early this year! Let’s us help you wrap up a difficult year with a smooth selling process. Call (512)260-1000 or visit 
How big is 5 million square feet? The United States White House is only 54,900 ft2. Nasa’s headquarters facility is only 200,000 ft2. Amazon’s largest warehouse in the US is only 1 million ft2. The Dallas Cowboys Stadium is only 3 million ft2. So how big can 5 million square feet possibly be? Well, we’re about to find out as Tesla moves to Austin! In July of this year, Austin prevailed the winner of Elon Musk’s highly sought-after bid for a new Tesla Gigafactory, beating out other finalist Tulsa, Oklahoma. The development of the 2,100 acres purchased in southeast Austin will not only manufacture Musk’s new Cybertruck but also boast the Del Valle community with much needed infrastructure and financial support. A City of Austin consultant analyzed nearly 1 in 5 of the Austin workforce lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a statement reflective of the inflated unemployment rate. In September of 2019, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported an unemployment rate of only 2.6 percent. Following the pandemic, that percentage reached a peak of 12.2 in April 2020 and has since fallen to 6.7 in July 2020 (3.8 percentage points higher than the year prior). The unemployed workforce is a truly ominous number with several zeros… :( Have no fear, Tesla is here! With ground already broken, Tesla plans to hire up to 5,000 workers. While a project like this does not promise to fix Austin’s unemployment deficit, it is guaranteed to impact the lives of thousands in Del Valle – a region long neglected, and in much need of some TLC. The tech-savvy manufacturer has agreed to pay a minimum of $15 per hour, offering an entry-level salary of $35,000, although Musk has projected average annual pay will total around $47,000. In addition, under Travis County’s taxpayer-funded incentive agreement with Tesla, at least half of employees at the factory are required to be county residents. Families and residents of the district are thrilled to see the influx of Musk’s billion-dollar investment ripple through local hands and start to shape the community. In the next few years, we should start seeing the development of libraries, school programs, community centers, public parks, and more. Even the grocery supplier H-E-B has started poking government to break ground in the region and bring fresher, healthier products into local diets, without the 30-60 minute commute attached to an H-E-B run currently. Speaking of traffic, Texas 130, the highway nearest the Tesla site, is already is being widened from a four-lane toll road to six lanes which will increase the freeway’s capacity by nearly 27,000 cars per day, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. To keep up with this accelerated development, Metrostudy (analysts who track the Central Texas Housing Market) reported builders have started work on 368 new homes in Del Valle, in the second quarter of this year alone. That’s up 84% over the second quarter of 2019. So have you grasped yet the immensity of the 5 million square feet under construction just a few minutes from the airport? It’s not just in size…It’s in value. It’s in impact. It’s in the potential this one factory has to change the lives of thousands of our Austinite neighbors. Tesla is not only manufacturing innovative electric cars. Tesla is offering a living to hundreds of people who didn’t have the opportunity to obtain college degrees. Tesla is encouraging other high-profile corporate giants to base new developments in the Austin market; and inevitably, Tesla is providing a channel to progress southeast Austin into a thriving economic sector. This is only the beginning!
