Alan Kirkpatrick Austin Texas Real Estate

NEED HELP IN NAVIGATING THAT PROMOTIONAL LANGUAGE IN THE LISTING...

Since listing agents represent the seller, they sometimes tend to be a little... "creative" in the wording of home descriptions they are selling. We thought it would be helpful to include our interpretation of alternative possible meanings to some commonly used phrases listing agents might use:

"No neighbors behind" -- Probably backs to a busy street. Check a map before you schedule a viewing.

"Light and Bright" -- Window coverings not included.

"Low Maintenance" -- No yard.

"Immaculately maintained" -- The orange countertops and green shag carpet are still in excellent shape.

"Mountain View" -- You MIGHT be able to see some mountains from one of the rooms if you press your cheek to a window and look west, or climb on the roof.

"GREAT Mountain View" -- You should be able to see mountains from one or two rooms � hopefully either the master bedroom or the living room.

"Panoramic (or fabulous, terrific, amazing, or insert similar adjective) mountain view!" -- This home should have some great views. (If mountain views are what you are after, you might not want to bother with a showing unless you see a comment something like this.)

"Secluded setting" -- You'll spend in gas what you save in mortgage payment.

"Price reduced" -- Even if it was a big price reduction, that still doesn't mean it's a good deal. (That's where a buyer agent can step in and help you determine if it's a good deal.)


"Only 15 minutes to downtown" -- Sure � if you're Mario Andretti on a closed course. A more likely commute would be 20 to 25 minutes ;-)

"Backs to open area" -- Beware � You might be staring at the backside of a shopping mall someday if you buy this place. (Otherwise, the description would have read "Backs to OPEN SPACE")

Backs to "OPEN SPACE" -- Open space can't usually be developed, so the property should always back to open space, and your odds of having something built behind that property should be minimal.

"Charming" or "Cozy" -- The 2nd bedroom serves as your closet.

"Needs TLC" or "Needs a little work" -- Probably needs a LOT of work.

"Bring your handyman" -- This house probably needs a MAJOR renovation. (Otherwise, they would have just said "Needs TLC" ;-)

"Carpet allowance" -- Seller will pay to replace the avocado green shag carpet.

"Pet free" -- This doesn't necessarily mean pets aren't allowed; just that the present owners don't have pets.

"Sale contingent upon seller finding replacement home" -- The seller may accept your offer, but beware � if they get a better offer and they don't find a replacement home, the seller could terminate your contract and take the better offer. (Talk to us about this � our agents have got better ways of getting around this without putting you at risk.)

"In-law apartment" -- This can be considered a "non-conforming duplex" which is a great way to get a duplex without having to pay for it. Basement might be used as a rental to subsidize your mortgage payment.

"Seller will pay $3000 towards a rate buydown with a full price offer" -- Don't be fooled by this. This simply means that the seller will give $3000 towards making your payment more affordable for a year or two, but don't pay full price just because of a buydown... We can help you analyze the real value of the property, and whether or not taking such an offer is worthwhile.

"And much, much more..." -- Nothing else comes to mind about this home.

We would love the opportunity to help you "read between the lines" on the next home you buy. Don't forget that our services to you as a buyer are absolutely free!

alan Kirkpatrick, Realtor

Austin Texas Homes LLC.

office/cell 512-709-3336

alanmaz1@earthlink.net

WEB Austin Homes

These three have been most searched in the MLS in the month of June. They look like great bargains. If you want to know more contact me at: roundrockhomes@gmail.com

Count: 2

	1101 Sheltie Ln, Round Rock, TX 78664	MLS Number: 8785478
Price: $149,000 Total SQFT: 2,351 Bedrooms: 3 Year Built: 2001 Baths: 2 Office: Keller Williams - Lake Travis Remarks: Wow! Remodeled and looking like a model home! New Paint and carpet, tasteful ceramic tile. Corner Lot with big yard. Large family room, Island kitchen with big breakfast area. Game Room, 3 large bedrooms including a master suite with a sitting area and walk in closet. Try Zero Down & Zero Total move-in with assumable FHA loan with only 25 years left to pay off. Assumable payment just over $1300 per month. Qualifies for the $8,000 first time home buyer gift from the government. Grrreat Home! Show More Information

Count: 2

	1701 Alison Ann Ct, Pflugerville, TX 78660	MLS Number: 4663517
Price: $160,000 Total SQFT: 1,845 Bedrooms: 3 Year Built: 2003 Baths: 2 Office: Keller Williams Realty Remarks: $5,000 PRICE DROP! This home has a huge lot in the middle of a culdesac. Very well-laid out home, that seems much larger than the TCAD sqft. reported. Spacious kitchen is open to the family room. Formal dining room would make a great study or second living area. Check out this gorgeous master planned community with fantastic amenities including: multiple pools, sports courts, hike/bike trails, and activities director to coordinate community events! Show More Information

	8452 Spicewood Springs RD, Austin, TX 78759	MLS Number: 9827999
Price: $339,900 Total SQFT: 2,293 Bedrooms: 3 Year Built: 1971 Baths: 2 Office: Keller Williams Realty Remarks: VERY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY! 2 separ homes for the price of 1=2293 SF total! Main hse UPDATED & has 3 bed-2 liv-2 din-2 bath-2 car gar. SEPARATE GUEST HOME has: 1 Liv-Kitchen-1 bed-1bath! Guest house makes a great place for a home office OR wonderful place for relatives to stay! The top half of the lot is aprox. .5 acre & would make a great place to build your dream home w/VIEW! Both homes on septic but sewer is available at the street. Main house is updated with new rf-kitch-baths. Furniture in g.hse-stays! Show More Information

NOW is an excellent time to be buying property! We have not seen market discounts like this maybe ever at least since mankind moved from a cave to a log cabin. Ha.

If you are renting but want to buy before the November deadline on the government 8000 tax credit expires, there is still time but you need to act.

email me at: roundrockhomes@gmail.com

Where do you get the cash for a down payment? There are opportunities out there from zero down to 3.5%.

If you have an IRA the government will allow you to use a portion of that as a down payment on a home. How about borrowing from a family member until you get your portion of the tax credit back.

Many will wait until late October or early November to get serious about buying. Imagine how busy lending institutions and mortgage brokers will be then.

If you would like to see some current listings in the Austin Texas area email or call me.

Hope you had a Great Fathers Day! I know I am a little behind in wishing it for you. Over the years I have gotten my fair share of ugly ties for Fathers day but never from my kids or wife. As many of you know I was in full time ministry for 26 years. You guessed it my congregation members were the ones who presented me with some interesting ties including an American Flag one with a bald eagle in the middle. Great for the 4th of July! Ha.

This Fathers day my son got me a cool Tech gift. It has been the source of great enjoyment. What is it? He purchased it at Fry's Electronics. It is a personal fan that plugs into my computers USB port. It is flexible so I can point it toward me while I blog away and stay cool! Ha. He also got a keyboard light that plugs up the same way and illuminates the keyboard so that while we are watching a movie I can email in the dark and not bother others. How cools is that. As I type this post I am enjoying my fan!!!

Eric Bakos

Sidelined: Eric Bakos, who suffered burns on 65 percent of his body in December, joins his former Stony Point teammates at the spring football game. Bakos had hoped to play football and basketball as a senior but can't do either.

"The heat was just so intense. Everything was just fire," Misty Bakos said. "The patio. The front door. The railing of stairs we needed to get down."

Eric Bakos - called by Stony Point football coach Craig Chessher "one of the best maneuvering athletes on the field" - made it through the opening without suffering any burns, but then a fiery piece of debris caught hold of his leg and sent him sprawling, bare-chested, onto the baking concrete.

Read the entire story: http://www.statesman.com/sports/content/sports/stories/highschool/2009/06/28/0628bakos.html